A piston engine, two-cylinder horizontally opposed (“boxer”), air-cooled. It was designed in 1923 by the engine department of the Bristol works under the direction of Roy Fedden to meet the market demand for a low-power engine that would enable the construction of light aircraft.
The Cherub powered most of the aircraft that took part in the Two-seater Light Plane Competitions at Lympne, organized by the Royal Aero Club on 29 September – 4 October 1924: Wee Bee I, Brownie, Avis, Pixie IIIa, Westland Wood Pidgeon, Cranwell II, Vickers Vag.
The Cherub engine earned considerable recognition at the competition, which translated into the engine’s popularity in subsequent years. This powerplant was used by, among others, the German designer Dr. Alexander Lippisch in one of his “flying wings” – the Storch IX B motor glider.
| Configuration | 2-cylinder horizontally opposed (boxer) |
| Displacement | 1.095 l |
| Power | 32 hp (24 kW) at 2500 rpm |
