This famous firm began manufacturing automobiles in 1898 at Billancourt, France, completing its first aircraft engine in 1908, a four cylinder water-cooled, in-line type. In 1917, Renault began production of the Model 12 Fe, a water-cooled V-12 engine, which powered the Army Breguet XIV A2 (1) and the Voisin X night bomber.
More than 7,000 engines were built after the War. The Model 12 Fe powered civil transport aircraft owned by Latecoere de l'Aeropostale on the French-Morocco route. In 1919, a Breguet XIV equipped with a Rateau-turbosupercharged 12 Fe engine set an altitude record with passengers of 9,200 meters (30,200 ft). In Britain, Wolseley Motors built Renault engines under license in Birmingham. The British-built Renault 12 Fe powered the Airco D.H.4, Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7, and Short (Admiralty Type) 184 aircraft.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.