Bristol Cherub

The Bristol Cherub is a British two-cylinder, air-cooled, aircraft engine designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Introduced in 1923 it was a popular engine for ultralight and small aircraft in the 1930s.^[1]

Cherub
Preserved Bristol Cherub engine
Type	Piston aircraft engine
Manufacturer	Bristol Aeroplane Company
First run	1923
Major applications	Bristol Brownie Hawker Cygnet

Variants

Cherub I

Initial direct drive version introduced in 1923. Bore and stroke of 3.35 by 3.8 inches (85 mm × 97 mm) for a displacement of 67 cu in (1.095 L). 32 horsepower (24 kW) at 2,500 rpm.^[2]

Cherub II

Geared down (2:1) version of the Cherub I.

Cherub III

An improved and slightly larger (1.228 L) direct drive version introduced in 1925.

Applications

Cherub-powered Short Satellite

• Avia BH-2
• Avro Avis
• Beardmore Wee Bee
• Bristol Brownie
• Cranwell CLA.2
• Cranwell CLA.3
• Cranwell CLA.4
• Dart Pup
• Everson Evo III
• Granger Archaeopteryx
• Halton Mayfly
• Halton Minus
• Hawker Cygnet
• Johnson Twin 60
• Lippisch Delta 1
• Messerschmitt M17
• Meyers Midget
• Mignet HM.14 Pou-du-Ciel
• Parnall Pixie
• Pander DB two Pices
• Powell Racer
• RAE Scarab
• RAE Hurricane
• Short Cockle
• Short Satellite
• Stout Amphibian
• Supermarine Sparrow
• Vickers Vagabond
• Westland Woodpigeon
• Westland-Hill Pterodactyl

Survivors

An airworthy Messerschmitt M17 replica is owned and operated by the EADS Heritage Flight at Manching and is powered by an original Bristol Cherub III.^[3]

Engines on display

A preserved Bristol Cherub is on static display at the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, Bedfordshire.

Specifications (Cherub III)

Data from Lumsden.^[4]

General characteristics

• Type: 2-cylinder air-cooled, horizontally opposed, left-hand tractor
• Bore: 3.54 in (90 mm)
• Stroke: 3.8 in (96.5 mm)
• Displacement: 75 in³ (1.228 L)
• Width: 25.6 in (650 mm)
• Dry weight: 98 lb (39.5 kg)

Components

• Valvetrain: Overhead valve
• Oil system: Dry sump
• Cooling system: Air-cooled

Performance

• Power output: 36 hp (24 kW) at 3,200 rpm
• Compression ratio: 5.75:1
• Fuel consumption: 2.5 imp. gallons per hour
• Power-to-weight ratio: 0.36 hp/lb

See also

Comparable engines

• ABC Scorpion
• Aeronca E-113
• Armstrong Siddeley Ounce
• Walter Atom

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines