Bristol Phoenix

Phoenix
Type	Diesel aircraft engine
Manufacturer	Bristol Aeroplane Company
First run	1928
Major applications	Westland Wapiti

The Phoenix was an experimental version of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's Pegasus engine, adapted to run on the Diesel cycle. Only a few were built between 1928 and 1932, although samples fitted to a Westland Wapiti held the altitude record for diesel-powered aircraft at 27,453 ft (8,368 m) from 11 May 1934 until World War II.^[1] The primary advantage of the Phoenix was better fuel efficiency at cruise, by up to 35%.

Variants

• Phoenix I: - Diesel version of the Pegasus IF, 380 hp.
• Phoenix IIM: - Medium-supercharged diesel version of Pegasus IM, 470 hp.

Applications

• Westland Wapiti

Specifications (Phoenix I)

Data from Lumsden^[2]

General characteristics

• Type: nine-cylinder air-cooled Diesel radial engine
• Bore: 5.75 in (146 mm)
• Stroke: 7.5 in (190 mm)
• Displacement: 1,753 in³ (28.7 l)
• Length: 43.75 in (1,111 mm)
• Diameter: 55.25 in (1,403 mm)
• Dry weight: 1,067 lb (484 kg)

Components

• Valvetrain: Overhead valve, two intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder, pushrod-actuated.
• Fuel type: Diesel
• Cooling system: Air-cooled

Performance

• Power output: 380 hp (283 kW) at 2,000 rpm at sea level
• Specific power: 0.22 hp/in³ (9.9 kW/L)
• Compression ratio: 14:1
• Power-to-weight ratio: 0.36 hp/lb (0.6 kW/kg)

See also

Comparable engines

• BMW 114-V4
• Packard DR-980

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines

References

Notes

1. Gunston 1989, p.32.
2. Lumsden 2003, p.114.

Bibliography

• Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9
• Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.

External links

• Bristol Phoenix and Westland Wapiti - Flight, May 1934