Bristol Centaurus goes on display

The hangar at Kemble has a new exhibit in the form of an 18 Cylinder Centaurus engine – the ultimate piston engine produced by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. The engine has been partially sectioned for display purposes, giving an excellent view of its internal workings. It is on loan from the RAF Museum, and replaces an example that had been difficult to display properly.

This Centaurus is one of only 523 Bristol engines built in the shadow factory at Spring Quarry near Corsham in Wiltshire. Also known as Beaverbrook, it was the largest underground factory in the world at the time, and is still owned by the MoD. The display also includes many photographs and documents on the factory, including photos of the famous murals painted by Olga Lehmann. She was employed by Sir Reginald Verdon Smith to brighten up the canteen and other areas, and her murals still survive to this day.

posted by Andrew on 1.7.08