Post by Diarist on Mar 1, 2017 3:20:37 GMT 1
Yesterday I decided to visit Gloster Aircraft then Bristol Aircraft in order to prepare for this morning's meeting at the RAE in Farnborough. The weather wasn't cooperating so I travelled by train. At Gloster I had a long conversation with Henry Folland and Howard Preston, their chief designers. The FAA designs are looking good but we don't have engines at the moment. Henry will be at RAE tomorrow.
Afterwards I was driven to Bristol Aircraft where I met Roy Fedden and Frank Barnwell. They showed me their land-based torpedo-bomber design with the R-2600 engines removed. It hasn't flown yet and it's still early days for their own engines. The Hercules is running but only at 975 hp which is little disappointing. They are hoping for 1500 hp which would be enough for the Gloster aircraft. The Hercules engine uses a revolutionary sleeve-valve design and I'm not quite sure what that is so I'm going to pick their brains for a while. I'm suggesting that they consider concentrating on the Hercules and drop development of the smaller Taurus design. Develop a larger Hercules instead. They suggested an 18-cylinder version with a larger bore. We agreed upon aiming for 2,000 hp which would be ideal for heavy four-engine bombers. On the train back to London I typed several memorandums.
When I finally arrived at MCD most of the people had already gone home. It was 18:30 so I couldn't complain. I gave a copy of my memorandums to Wilfrid Freeman and we discussed my day before leaving. I called Mum to inform her that Sally and I would be eating at the hotel.
This morning we arrived at MCD before 7 o'clock and I had Corporal Williams take copies of my memorandums to Winston Churchill. I talked with him shortly afterwards and he told me that he won't be going to RAE but Sir Philip, Duff and COL Windsor(?) will. So next I called Edward.
"Good morning, Edward. How do I address you now?"
"Edward is fine, Bob. Albert is taking care of the funeral arrangements. Are the R-2600 engines that bad?"
"They're a disaster. I've got a spare place in my car if you wish we can talk while I drive to Farnborough."
"I accept. I'll see you in five minutes."
Afterwards I was driven to Bristol Aircraft where I met Roy Fedden and Frank Barnwell. They showed me their land-based torpedo-bomber design with the R-2600 engines removed. It hasn't flown yet and it's still early days for their own engines. The Hercules is running but only at 975 hp which is little disappointing. They are hoping for 1500 hp which would be enough for the Gloster aircraft. The Hercules engine uses a revolutionary sleeve-valve design and I'm not quite sure what that is so I'm going to pick their brains for a while. I'm suggesting that they consider concentrating on the Hercules and drop development of the smaller Taurus design. Develop a larger Hercules instead. They suggested an 18-cylinder version with a larger bore. We agreed upon aiming for 2,000 hp which would be ideal for heavy four-engine bombers. On the train back to London I typed several memorandums.
When I finally arrived at MCD most of the people had already gone home. It was 18:30 so I couldn't complain. I gave a copy of my memorandums to Wilfrid Freeman and we discussed my day before leaving. I called Mum to inform her that Sally and I would be eating at the hotel.
This morning we arrived at MCD before 7 o'clock and I had Corporal Williams take copies of my memorandums to Winston Churchill. I talked with him shortly afterwards and he told me that he won't be going to RAE but Sir Philip, Duff and COL Windsor(?) will. So next I called Edward.
"Good morning, Edward. How do I address you now?"
"Edward is fine, Bob. Albert is taking care of the funeral arrangements. Are the R-2600 engines that bad?"
"They're a disaster. I've got a spare place in my car if you wish we can talk while I drive to Farnborough."
"I accept. I'll see you in five minutes."