The Rolls Royce Kestrel, born in the 1920s, was light but mighty—pioneering a cast block design used in nearly 5,000 engines. Its success paved the way for the legendary Merlin, powering icons like the Spitfire, Hurricane, and Lancaster, as well as the American Mustang. At the same time Germany was refining its engines in different ways.

Untold Stories is a series of short films, narrated by our own experts, that uncover the remarkable lesser-known stories of the Battle of Britain while spotlighting the people, tactics, and technology brought to life through the RAF Museum’s collection.

Keep an eye out for Episode 10 when we explore a beautiful machine to fly.