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
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.