| Hercules | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cutaway Bristol Hercules engine at the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, Scotland | |
| Type | Piston aircraft engine |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Bristol Aeroplane Company |
| First run | January 1936 |
| Major applications | Bristol Beaufighter Short Stirling Handley Page Halifax |
| Number built | 57,400 |
| Developed from | Bristol Perseus |
| Developed into | Bristol Centaurus |
The Bristol Hercules is a 14-cylinder two-row radial aircraft engine designed by Sir Roy Fedden and produced by the Bristol Engine Company starting in 1939. It was the most numerous of their single sleeve valve (Burt-McCollum, or Argyll, type) designs, powering many aircraft in the mid-World War II timeframe.
The Hercules powered a number of aircraft types, including Bristol's own Beaufighter heavy fighter design, although it was more commonly used on bombers. The Hercules also saw use in civilian designs, culminating in the 735 and 737 engines for such as the Handley Page Hastings C1 and C3 and Bristol Freighter. The design was also licensed for production in France by SNECMA.