The initial variant of the BR.2 developed 230 horsepower (170 kW), with nine cylinders measuring 5.5 by 7.1 inches (140 mm × 180 mm) for a total displacement of 1,522 cubic inches (24.9 L). It weighed 490 pounds (220 kg), only 93 pounds (42 kg) more than the Bentley BR.1.
This was the last type of rotary engine to be adopted by the RAF – later air-cooled aircraft engines such as the Cosmos Jupiter and Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar being almost entirely of the fixed radial type. With the BR.2, the rotary engine had reached a point beyond which this type of engine could not be further developed, due to its inherent limitations.[2]
Applicationsedit
The type selected as the standard single-seat fighter of the post-war RAF, the Sopwith Snipe, had been designed around the BR.2, as had its ground attack version, the Sopwith TF.2 Salamander. A number of other experimental and minor production types were either designed for, or otherwise fitted with this power plant during the late "war" years and into the early 1920s.
A ¼ scale working replica of the Bentley BR.2 World War I rotary aero engine built by Lewis Kinleside Blackmore is currently on display at the Bentley Memorial Building in Oxfordshire, UK. This was the first model built of this engine and is the subject also of a book by L K Blackmore.
The Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada has a BR.2 installed in their Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe.
Specifications (BR.2)edit
Manufacturer's plate (dated November 1917) and valve operating gear of the BR.2 engine on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. pp. 25–26.
Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN1-85260-163-9
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1993. ISBN1-85170-347-0
Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN1-85310-294-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bentley BR2.
February 11, 2024
bentley, bentley, nine, cylinder, british, rotary, aircraft, engine, developed, during, first, world, motor, engine, designer, bentley, from, earlier, bentley, built, small, numbers, during, main, being, royal, force, early, 1920s, engine, display, shuttlewort. The Bentley B R 2 was a nine cylinder British rotary aircraft engine developed during the First World War by the motor car engine designer W O Bentley from his earlier Bentley BR 1 The BR 2 was built in small numbers during the war its main use being by the Royal Air Force in the early 1920s 1 BR 2B R 2 engine on display at the Shuttleworth CollectionType Rotary engineNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Humber Crossley Daimler Gwynnes Ruston and ProctorFirst run 1917Major applications Sopwith SnipeNumber built 2 567Developed from Bentley BR 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Applications 3 Variants 4 Engines on display 5 Specifications BR 2 5 1 General characteristics 5 2 Components 5 3 Performance 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editThe initial variant of the BR 2 developed 230 horsepower 170 kW with nine cylinders measuring 5 5 by 7 1 inches 140 mm 180 mm for a total displacement of 1 522 cubic inches 24 9 L It weighed 490 pounds 220 kg only 93 pounds 42 kg more than the Bentley BR 1 This was the last type of rotary engine to be adopted by the RAF later air cooled aircraft engines such as the Cosmos Jupiter and Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar being almost entirely of the fixed radial type With the BR 2 the rotary engine had reached a point beyond which this type of engine could not be further developed due to its inherent limitations 2 Applications editThe type selected as the standard single seat fighter of the post war RAF the Sopwith Snipe had been designed around the BR 2 as had its ground attack version the Sopwith TF 2 Salamander A number of other experimental and minor production types were either designed for or otherwise fitted with this power plant during the late war years and into the early 1920s nbsp Gloster Nightjar during evaluation at Farnborough in 1922Armstrong Whitworth Armadillo Austin Osprey Boulton Paul Bobolink Brennan Helicopter Gloster Grouse Gloster Nightjar Gloster Sparrowhawk Grain Griffin Handley Page Type S Nieuport Nightjar Parnall Panther Sopwith Buffalo Sopwith Gnu Sopwith Salamander Sopwith Snipe Vickers VampireVariants editBR 2 230 1918 230 hp BR 2 245 1918 245 hp Engines on display editA Bentley BR 2 is on public display in the Science Museum London another forms part of the aero engine collection at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford Another one serial number 40543 manufactured by Gwynnes is in the National Military Museum Romania The sole operational BR 2 is mounted in Fantasy of Flight s replica of the Sopwith Snipe 3 A scale working replica of the Bentley BR 2 World War I rotary aero engine built by Lewis Kinleside Blackmore is currently on display at the Bentley Memorial Building in Oxfordshire UK This was the first model built of this engine and is the subject also of a book by L K Blackmore The Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa Ontario Canada has a BR 2 installed in their Sopwith 7F 1 Snipe Specifications BR 2 edit nbsp Manufacturer s plate dated November 1917 and valve operating gear of the BR 2 engine on display at the Royal Air Force Museum CosfordData from Jane s 4 General characteristics Type 9 cylinder rotary Bore 5 51 in 140 mm Stroke 7 09 in 180 mm Displacement 1521 8 in 24 94 L Dry weight 490 lb 220 kg Components Valvetrain Overhead valve Cooling system Air cooledPerformance Power output 250 hp Fuel consumption 20 gallons per hour Oil consumption 16 pints per hour Power to weight ratio 0 5 hp lbSee also editRelated development Bentley BR 1 ClergetComparable engines Le RhoneRelated lists List of aircraft enginesReferences editNotes edit Lumsden 2003 p 88 Gunston 1989 p 22 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Sopwith Snipe Part 1 Kermie Cam YouTube Jane s 1993 p 274 Bibliography edit Gunston Bill 1986 World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines Wellingborough Patrick Stephens pp 25 26 Gunston Bill World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines Cambridge England Patrick Stephens Limited 1989 ISBN 1 85260 163 9 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 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bentley BR2 National Museum of the USAF BR 2 fact sheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bentley BR2 amp oldid 1154660037, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
