Beginning in 1911, and until manufacturing rights were sold to Renault, Clerget, Blin, and Cie of Paris, France, built various types of airplane engines, but mainly air-cooled rotaries. During World War I, the company's effort was concentrated almost entirely on this type of engine. Gwynnes, Ltd., Hammersmith Iron Works, London, England, controlled the British manufacturing rights on Clerget engines.
The Clerget Type 9B was a highly successful engine and was used extensively during World War I. Among the French aircraft equipped with the Type 9B were the Nieuport 12 and 17, Nieuport Triplane, Pommier, Caudron, CSL, MS 30 and 35, and Spad. Numerous British aircraft were also powered by the Type 9B, among them the: Avro 504C/K/L and 531/A Spider; Bristol 10 M.1A and 11 M.1B; Cierva C.6C/D and C.8R Autogiro; and Sopwith Baby, Triplane, F.1 Camel, Scooter, Triplane, and LCT 1-1/2 Strutter.
Object Details
Date: Circa World War I
Country of Origin: France
Type: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
Manufacturer: Automobiles Delaunay-Belleville. Panhard-Levassor
Designer: Clerget, Blin and Cie
Physical Description:
Type: Rotary, 9 cylinders, air-cooled
Power rating: 96.9 kw (130 hp) at 1,250 rpm
Displacement: 16.26 L (992.07 cu. in.)
Bore and Stroke: 120 mm (4.72 in.) x 160 mm (6.3 in.)
Weight: 173 kg (381 lb)
Dimensions:
Diameter 102.1 cm (40.2 in.), Length 110.5 cm (43.5 in.)
Materials: Steel, Paint, Preservative coating, Aluminum
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
6/10/2025 Here are photos of my just finished Hasegawa 1/8 scale Clerget 9B rotary engine. It was a lot of fun to build, went together easily and will look great next to my Hasegawa 1/16 Sophwith Camel. I haven't added any weathering to it – I may do that later.
Herre are some pics of the 1/8 Clerget 9B alongside the 1/16 Sopwith Camel:
