Abstract: A rotary engine comprises a rotor 14 rotating within an oval chamber 10 for rotation about an axis fixed with respect to the chamber. The rotor 14 has radial slots 19 receiving respective vanes 18 which are urged radially outwardly to make sealing engagement with the oval peripheral wall of the chamber 10. To ensure good sealing of the ends of each vane with respect to the end walls of the chamber 10, each vane 18 is of multi-part construction comprising end parts 50 for cooperation with the chamber end walls and an intermediate part 52. In one embodiment the intermediate part 52 and end parts 50 have cooperating inclined ramp faces such that an outwardly directed force applied to the part 52 by centrifugal force or by a biassing spring will cause the end parts 50 to be thrust laterally, by a wedging action, into sealing contact with the adjoining end walls.