| Exe | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Piston X-24 aero-engine |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce Limited |
| First run | September 1936 |
| Major applications | Fairey Battle |
| Developed into | Rolls-Royce Pennine |
The Rolls-Royce Exe, or Boreas,[1] was a 24-cylinder air-cooled X block sleeve valve aircraft engine intended primarily for the new Fairey Fleet Air Arm aircraft, particularly the Fairey Barracuda. The Exe was relatively powerful for its era, producing about 1,100 hp (820 kW). This is notable given the relatively small 1,300 cubic inches (22 L) displacement, the Merlin requiring 1,600 cubic inches (27 L) for approximately the same power level. The X-24 layout made this quite a compact engine.
The Exe was named after the River Exe, although Rolls-Royce later transferred the use of river names to its gas turbine engines.
- ^ This name was dropped due to conflict with the Bristol Aeroplane Company's series of Greek mythology named engines, Lumsden 2003, p.201.