Clerget 9B

Last updated
9B
Clerget 9B FAAM.JPG
Preserved Clerget 9B engine on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton.
TypeRotary engine
National originFrance
Manufacturer Clerget-Blin
First run1913
Major applications Sopwith Camel
Number built6,500 (French production) [1]
3,650 (British production)
Developed into Bentley BR1

The Clerget 9B is a nine-cylinder rotary aircraft engine of the World War I era designed by Pierre Clerget. Manufactured in both France and Great Britain (Gwynnes Limited), it was used on such aircraft as the Sopwith Camel. The Clerget 9Bf was an increased stroke version. [2]

Contents

Variants

Clerget 9B

(1913) 130 hp (97 kW). 1,300 produced by Ruston Proctor & Co Ltd of Lincoln

Clerget 9Bf

(1915) 140 hp (104 kW). Extended stroke 172 mm (6.75 in) version, increasing capacity to 17.5 L (1,066.5 cu in). 1,750 produced by Gwynnes Limited and 600 produced by Ruston Proctor.

Applications

Clerget 9B

Clerget 9B powered Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London Sopwith Strutter RAFM.jpg
Clerget 9B powered Sopwith 1½ Strutter on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London

Clerget 9Bf

Engines on display

Operational (Airworthy) Rotary Engines

The Shuttleworth Collection based at Old Warden Aerodrome, UK, operate an airworthy late production Sopwith Triplane (G-BOCK) [4] fitted with an original 9B as well as an airworthy late production Sopwith Camel (G-BZSC) [5] fitted with an original long-stroke 9Bf. These aircraft can be seen displaying at home air displays through the summer months.

Specifications (Clerget 9B)

Clerget 9B Clerget 9B RAFM.jpg
Clerget 9B

Data fromLumsden. [2] [6]

General characteristics

Components

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

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References

Notes

  1. Hartmann, Gerard (2003). "La société des moteurs Clerget" [The Clerget Motor Company](PDF) (in French). Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 Lumsden 2003, p. 133.
  3. Powerhouse Museum - Clerget 9Bf Retrieved: 12 November 2010.
  4. The Shuttleworth Collection - Sopwith Triplane Retrieved: 21 August 2018
  5. The Shuttleworth Collection - Sopwith Camel Retrieved: 21 August 2018
  6. Grey, C.G. (1969). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919 (Facsimile ed.). David & Charles (Publishing) Limited. pp. 1b to 145b. ISBN   978-0-7153-4647-1.

Bibliography