Bristol Phoenix Explained

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

References

Bibliography

• Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989.
• Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. .

External links

• Bristol Phoenix and Westland Wapiti - Flight, May 1934

Notes and References

1. Gunston 1989, p.32.