Formed in 1906 to produce automobiles, Rolls-Royce was asked to begin designing and building aircraft engines at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Design of the Merlin began in 1933 following the similar Kestrel design. This engine, a developmental prototype in the Merlin 100 series, was built by Rolls-Royce in Derby, England, sometime between June and July 1944. It was a new class of engine, built to higher performance standards for power and altitude.
Created by
Eric Long
Date Created
12/10/2008
Source
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Keywords
Aviation; Engines; Piston; Propulsion; World War II
Rights and Restrictions
CC0
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