Rolls-Royce Falcon
| Falcon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Preserved Rolls-Royce Falcon III at the Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Type | V-12 aero engine |
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce Limited |
| First run | 1915 |
| Major applications | Bristol F.2 Fighter Blackburn Kangaroo |
| Number built | 2,185 |
| Developed from | Rolls-Royce Eagle |
The Rolls-Royce Falcon is an aero engine developed in 1915. It was a smaller version of the Rolls-Royce Eagle, a liquid-cooled V-12 of 867 cu in (14.2 L) capacity. Fitted to many British World War I-era aircraft, production ceased in 1927. The Falcon was designed by R.W. Harvey-Bailey.[1]
An airworthy Falcon survives today and powers a Bristol F.2 Fighter during summer displays.
Design and development[edit]
Production of the Falcon began in September 1916 and was so successful that it was also manufactured under licence by Brazil Straker in Bristol.[2] Production continued until 1927, by which time 2,185 had been built.[3]
An unusual feature of this engine was the epicyclic propeller reduction gear which contained a clutch designed to limit the maximum torque, thus protecting the reduction gears.[4]
The Falcon was notably used in the Bristol F.2 Fighter and Blackburn Kangaroo bomber.
Variants[edit]
Note:[5]
- Falcon I (Rolls-Royce 190 hp Mk I)
- (1916-17), 230 hp, 250 engines produced in both left- and right-hand tractor versions.
- Falcon II (Rolls-Royce 190 hp Mk II)
- (1917), 253 hp, carburettor size increased. 250 built at Derby.
- Falcon III (Rolls-Royce 190 hp Mk III)
- (1917-1927), 285 hp, increased compression ratio (5.3:1), twin carburettors replaced with four Rolls-Royce/Claudel-Hobson units. 1,685 built at Derby.
Applications[edit]
List from Guttery and Lumsden:[3][4]
- Armstrong Whitworth F.K.12
- Avro 523C Pike
- Avro 529
- Blackburn G.P. Seaplane
- Blackburn Kangaroo
- Blackburn Sprat
- Bristol Type 12 F.2A
- Bristol Type 27 F.2B Coupe
- Bristol F.2 Fighter
- Bristol Type 86 Greek Tourer
- Bristol Type 96
- Curtiss H-12
- de Havilland DH.37
- Fairey F.2
- Fairey N.9
- Martinsyde F.3
- Martinsyde R.G
- Martinsyde Buzzard
- Parnall Perch
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7
- Vickers F.B.14
- Vickers Viking
- Vickers Vendace
- Vickers Vedette
- Westland Limousine
- Westland Wizard
Survivors[edit]
Bristol F.2B Fighter, D-8096, is based at the Shuttleworth Collection and is powered by a Falcon III, this aircraft flies regularly in summer.[6]
Engines on display[edit]
- A Rolls-Royce Falcon is on public display at the Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire.
- A Rolls-Royce Falcon is displayed at the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Collection (Derby).
- A Rolls-Royce Falcon is displayed at the South African Air Force Museum, Port Elizabeth
Specifications (Falcon III)[edit]
Data from Jane's[7] and Lumsden.[3]
General characteristics
- Type: 12-cylinder liquid-cooled 60 deg. Vee aircraft piston engine
- Bore: 4 in (101.6 mm)
- Stroke: 5.75 in (146 mm)
- Displacement: 866.5 in³ (14.2 L)
- Length: 68 in (1,727 mm)
- Width: 40.3 in (1,024 mm)
- Height: 37.2 in (945 mm)
- Dry weight: 715 lb (324 kg)
Components
- Valvetrain: Overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder
- Fuel system: Four Rolls-Royce/Claudel-Hobson carburettors
- Fuel type: 40-50 octane petrol (pre-1923)
- Cooling system: Liquid-cooled
Performance
- Power output: 288 hp (215 kW) at 2,300 rpm at sea level
- Compression ratio: 5.3:1
- Fuel consumption: 18.5 Imp gal/hr (84 L/hr)
- Oil consumption: 0.75 Imp gal/hr (3.4 L/hr)
- Power-to-weight ratio: 0.4 hp/lb (0.66 kW/kg)
See also[edit]
Related development
Related lists
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ "World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines - 5th edition" by Bill Gunston, Sutton Publishing, 2006, p.185
- ^ Pugh 2001, p.82.
- ^ a b c Lumsden 2003, p.188.
- ^ a b Guttery 1969, p.27.
- ^ Alternate designations in italics.
- ^ Shuttleworth Collection - Bristol Fighter www.shuttleworth.org. Retrieved: 13 December 2017
- ^ Jane's 1989, p.312.
Bibliography[edit]
- Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. ISBN 0-901319-01-5
- Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1993. ISBN 1-85170-347-0
- Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.
- Pugh, Peter. The Magic of a Name - The Rolls-Royce Story: The First 40 Years. Duxford, Cambridge: Icon Books, 2001. ISBN 1-84046-151-9.
External links[edit]
