Bristol Mercury

The Bristol Mercury is a British nine-cylinder, air-cooled, single-row, piston radial engine. Designed by Roy Fedden of the Bristol Aeroplane Company it was used to power both civil and military aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s. Developed from the earlier Jupiter engine, later variants could produce 800 horsepower (600 kW) from its capacity of 1,500 cubic inches (25 L) by use of a geared supercharger.

For another use, see Bristol Mercury (newspaper).

Mercury
Preserved Bristol Mercury VII on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London
Type Piston aero engine
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company
Designer Roy Fedden
First run 1925
Major applications Bristol Blenheim
Gloster Gladiator
Fokker D.XXI
Number built 20,700
Developed from Bristol Jupiter
Developed into Bristol Pegasus

Almost 21,000 engines were produced, with a number also being built under license elsewhere in Europe. Several examples remain airworthy, with other preserved examples on public display in aviation museums.

Design and development

The Mercury was developed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1925 as their Bristol Jupiter was reaching the end of its lifespan. Although the Mercury initially failed to attract much interest, the Air Ministry eventually funded three prototypes and it became another winner for the designer Roy Fedden.

With the widespread introduction of superchargers to the aviation industry in order to improve altitude performance, Fedden felt it was reasonable to use a small amount of boost at all times in order to improve performance of an otherwise smaller engine. Instead of designing an entirely new block, the existing Jupiter parts were re-used with the stroke reduced by one inch (25 mm). The smaller capacity engine was then boosted back to Jupiter power levels, while running at higher rpm and thus requiring a reduction gear for the propeller. The same techniques were applied to the original Jupiter-sized engine to produce the Pegasus.

The Mercury's smaller size was aimed at fighter use and it powered the Gloster Gauntlet and its successor, the Gloster Gladiator. It was intended that the larger Pegasus would be for bombers, but as the power ratings of both engines rose, the Mercury was used in almost all roles. Perhaps its most famous use was in a twin-engine light bomber, the Bristol Blenheim.

In 1938 Roy Fedden pressed the Air Ministry to import supplies of 100 octane aviation spirit from the US. This new fuel would allow aero engines to run at higher compression ratios and supercharger boost pressure than the existing 87-octane fuel, thus increasing the power. The Mercury XV was one of the first British aero engines to be type-tested and cleared to use the 100-octane fuel in 1939. This engine was capable of running with a boost pressure of +9 lbs/sq.in (0.62 bar) and was first used in the Blenheim Mk IV.[1]

The Mercury was also the first British aero engine to be approved for use with variable-pitch propellers.

The Bristol company and its shadow factories produced 20,700 examples of the engine.[2] Outside the United Kingdom, Mercury was licence-built in Poland and used in their PZL P.11 fighters. It was also built by NOHAB in Sweden and used in the Swedish Gloster Gladiator fighters and in the Saab 17 dive-bomber. In Italy, it was built by Alfa Romeo as the Mercurius. In Czechoslovakia it was built by Walter Engines. In Finland, it was built by Tampella and mainly used on Bristol Blenheim bombers.

Variants

Note:[3]

Mercury I
(1926) 808 hp (603 kW), direct drive. Schneider Trophy racing engine
Mercury II
(1928) 420 hp (310 kW), compression ratio 5.3:1
Mercury IIA
(1928) 440 hp (330 kW)
Mercury III
(1929) 485 hp (362 kW), compression ratio 4.8:1, 0.5:1 reduction gear
Mercury license built by NOHAB
Mercury IIIA
Minor modification of Mercury III
Mercury IV
(1929) 485 hp (362 kW), 0.656:1 reduction gear
Mercury IVA
(1931) 510 hp (380 kW)
Mercury IVS.2
(1932) 510 hp (380 kW)
Mercury (Short stroke)
Unsuccessful experimental short stroke (5.0 in) version, 390 hp (290 kW)
Mercury V
546 hp (407 kW) (became the Pegasus IS.2)
Mercury VIS
(1933) 605 hp (451 kW)
Side view showing valve gear detail.
Mercury VISP
(1931) 605 hp (451 kW), 'P' for Persia.
Mercury VIS.2
(1933) 605 hp (451 kW)
Mercury VIA
(1928) 575 hp (429 kW) (became the Pegasus IU.2)
Mercury VIIA
560 hp (420 kW) (became the Pegasus IM.2)
Mercury VIII
(1935) 825 hp (615 kW), compression ratio 6.25:1, lightened engine.
Mercury VIIIA
Mercury VIII fitted with gun synchronisation gear for the Gloster Gladiator MkII
Mercury VIIIA
535 hp, second use of VIIIA designation, (became the Pegasus IU.2P)
Mercury IX
(1935) 825 hp (615 kW), lightened engine.
Mercury X
(1937) 820 hp (610 kW)
Mercury XI
(1937) 820 hp (610 kW)
Mercury XII

(1937) 820 hp (610 kW)

Mercury XV
(1938) 825 hp (615 kW), developed from Mercury VIII. Converted to run on 100 Octane fuel (previously 87 Octane).
Mercury XVI
830 hp (620 kW)
Mercury XX
(1940) 810 hp (600 kW)
Mercury 25
(1941) 825 hp (615 kW), Mercury XV with crankshaft modifications.
Mercury 26
825 hp (615 kW), Mercury 25 with modified carburettor.
Mercury 30
(1941) 810 hp (600 kW), Mercury XX with crankshaft modifications.
Mercury 31
(1945) 810 hp (600 kW), Mercury 30 with carburettor modifications and fixed pitch propeller for Hamilcar X.

Applications
The Mercury powered Fokker G.1

Note:[4]

Airworthy examples

The Shuttleworth Collection operates two Bristol Mercury powered aircraft: A Westland Lysander III (G-AZWT) and a Gloster Gladiator I (G-AMRK) which can be seen during flying displays at Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire.[5]

The Aircraft Restoration Company based at Duxford Airfield also operate a Mercury powered Westland Lysander (G-CCOM) as well as a Bristol Blenheim I (G-BPIV) light bomber fitted with two Bristol Mercurys, which can be seen at air displays at IWM Duxford as well as across the UK.[6]

The Fighter Collection, also currently based at Duxford Airfield, operate a 1939 Gloster Gladiator II (G-GLAD) powered by a Bristol Mercury XX.[7]

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has a Lysander IIIA in flying condition as does the Vintage Wings of Canada.[8][9]

Engines on display

Specifications (Mercury VI-S)
Bristol Mercury VII on display at the Shuttleworth Collection

Data from Lumsden[11]

General characteristics
  • Type: Nine-cylinder single-row supercharged air-cooled radial engine
  • Bore: 5.75 in (146 mm)
  • Stroke: 6.5 in (165 mm)
  • Displacement: 1,519 in³ (24.9 L)
  • Length: 47 in (1,194 mm)
  • Diameter: 51.5 in (1,307 mm)
  • Dry weight: 966 lb (438 kg)

Components

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Warner 2005, pp. 100, 112, 135.
  2. Bridgman (Jane's) 1998, p. 270.
  3. List from Lumsden 2003, pp. 104–108
  4. List from Lumsden, the Mercury may not be the main powerplant for these types
  5. The Shuttleworth Collection Retrieved: 24 January 2022
  6. Aircraft Restoration Company www.aircraftrestorationcompany.com Retrieved: 24 January 2022
  7. http://fighter-collection.com/cft/gloster-gladiator-g-glad/ The Fighter Collection] http://fighter-collection.com/cft/gloster-gladiator-g-glad/ Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  8. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum - Westland Lysander www.warplane.com Retrieved: 22 September 2010
  9. Vintage Wings - Westland Lysander www.vintagewings.ca Retrieved: 22 September 2010
  10. RAF Museum - Bristol Mercury Retrieved: 4 August 2009
  11. Lumsden 2003, p.105.

Bibliography
  • Bridgman, L, (ed.) (1998) Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7
  • Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines: From the Pioneers to the Present Day. 5th edition, Stroud, UK: Sutton, 2006.ISBN 0-7509-4479-X
  • Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and Their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.
  • Warner, G. The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History. London: Crécy Publishing, 2nd edition 2005. ISBN 0-85979-101-7.
  • White, Graham. Allied Aircraft Piston Engines of World War II: History and Development of Frontline Aircraft Piston Engines Produced by Great Britain and the United States During World War II. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: SAE International, 1995. ISBN 1-56091-655-9

Further reading
  • Gunston, Bill. Development of Piston Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 2006. ISBN 0-7509-4478-1
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