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Rolls-Royce Merlin Aero Engine

Image: Rolls-Royce Merlin 46

Source: Museum Victoria

The Merlin is one of the best known and most significant liquid-cooled piston aero engines ever produced. It evolved from the Rolls-Royce PV12 of 1933 which was a development the Rolls-Royce Kestrel. Early versions of the Merlin powered the Hurricane and Spitfire fighter aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Battle of Britain. It was developed continuously throughout the Second World War at factories including Derby and Crewe in the UK and was built in the USA by Packard. It powered numerous British service aircraft types including most versions of the Avro Lancaster bomber and also enabled the US-designed P-51 Mustang to fulfill its potential as a long-range escort fighter over Germany.

The Merlin was used in aircraft flown and serviced by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel in Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean as part of RAF Bomber, Fighter, Training and Coastal Commands. It was also used in Australia to power aircraft including the Fairy Battle trainer and Supermarine Spitfire fighter. Locally-made and imported RAAF Mosquito and Mustangs used Packard-built Merlins imported from the USA. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation assembled the Merlin 102 at Lidcombe, NSW using some imported parts for the post-war GAF Lincoln bomber built at the Government Aircraft Factory, Port Melbourne. The Merlin was also modified for use in tanks such as the Centurion where it was named the Meteor. Overhauled 60-Series Merlins from ex-RAAF Mk VIII Spitfires were fitted to some of the new Mustangs built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Port Melbourne after the war.

(showing 1 - 4) 4 items

Aero Engine - Rolls-Royce Merlin 46, Supermarine Spitfire Vc, 1942

This Mark 46 Merlin engine (serial no. 91315) was installed in Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc BS181 in July 1942 after manufacture at Derby and shipped to Australia. On 12 November 1942 thi ...

From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 2
Aero Engine - Rolls-Royce Derwent Mk.8, Gloster Meteor, 1951

The Rolls-Royce Derwent is a first generation centrifugal-flow jet engine developed from the original W.2B developed by Frank Whittle and Power Jets Ltd. After problems between Power Je ...

Images: 2
Aero Engine - Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII, 1920

The Museum's engine is an Eagle VIII purchased from Mr D.M. Wallace of Caulfield, Victoria in 1936. The history of this engine is not known however it is likely to be a spare engine pur ...

Images: 4
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Maker's Plate - CAC, R-1830-82, Twin Wasp Aero Engine, 1941

Maker's plate from a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-82 Twin Wasp aero engine licence-built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ltd (CAC). Marked 'Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ltd Airc ...

From: Lidcombe, Australia Images: 0