Blackburn named the civil flying boat Nile. Unlike the Sydney and Iris, which used three water-cooled engines, the Nile was to have three geared 515-horsepower Bristol Jupiter IX air-cooled radials. Blackburn more often preferred Napier and Rolls-Royce engines, but the Jupiter-powered Pelican had a strong reliability record under tropical conditions. Air-cooled engines could also perform well in cold and temperate climates, while their hot-weather reputation made them especially attractive for the African route. The choice shows how the expected operating climate influenced engine selection.
Notable Point · 1:42-2:38
Why Bristol Jupiter radials suited tropical routes
The proposed Nile was to use geared 515-horsepower Bristol Jupiter IX radials, whose hot-weather reliability suited the planned African route.