Post by Diarist on Mar 2, 2017 4:57:02 GMT 1
There were more than 60 people at RAE when we arrived and I only know half of them. We quickly got down to business. I announced that there are 54 more of these engines at Gloster Aircraft Company. "Given the comprehensive reports from Bristol Aircraft and our expertise with radial engines in the UK can we get these damn engines running correctly? Secondly, Bristol Aircraft Company has been developing the sleeve-valve technology. Can it be applied to these R-2600 engines? Finally I am open to any constructive proposals. Not just now but also next week, next month, etc. My door is always open. Thank you."
I'm not an engineer so I'm letting them talk and I'll wait for the after-action report from RAE. I looked for my brother John and found him together with Ernest Hives.
"Good morning, please tell me you have some good news."
"No bad news, Bob. The Merlin F is being tested and it looks promising."
"We said that about the Merlin E too, Ernest. Do you have a team working on a super-Merlin?"
"There are two projects. One is a 24-cylinder double-Merlin, the other is a V12 with a larger bore. Coupled with 100 octane fuel we should be able to increase the power by 50%."
"The latter sounds more interesting because the former wouldn't fit into a Spitfire or Hurricane, nor the de Havilland or Westland designs for that matter. Bristol has a radial engine which should meet the Gloster requirements and hopefully we'll have an improved R-2600 soon too. Your V24 would be great for heavy bombers or in a Hurricane replacement for its ground-support role. Is a V14 Merlin feasible, Ernest?"
"Anything's possible, Bob but that would mean major changes in the engine-block production facilities."
"I was just thinking out loud. John, are you the using the delay to incorporate the variable pitch propeller?
"Yes, we are on both aircraft. How will the European Confederation change things for us?"
"Difficult to say because nothing has been decided yet. There is a genuine will to proceed in all three nations. I'll be travelling to meet the Germans again tomorrow in Hamburg. I'll know more on Monday. If we do form a confederation I'd propose that we have a three nation tender for a common fighter-aircraft. I'm sure the Spitfire would easily win."
"That would be a huge order," John commented.
"The Germans would want to produce it under licence because they have the capacity and before you protest let's pretend that the Germans have a better medium bomber. Wouldn't we want to produce it under licence too?"
"Our expansion programme hasn't changed?"
"Not at all. We still have the Soviet and Japanese problems. Once they realize how much this confederation will change the balance of power they may move their plans forward. We need to organize facilities in Australia."
"We're already working on that, Bob."
"Rolls-Royce too, Ernest?"
"It's a joint project."
"Excellent. I have to get back to London. Until next week sometime."
I said thank you and farewell to the RAE people then with Edward, Wilfrid and Jack Baldwin I drove back to London.
I'm not an engineer so I'm letting them talk and I'll wait for the after-action report from RAE. I looked for my brother John and found him together with Ernest Hives.
"Good morning, please tell me you have some good news."
"No bad news, Bob. The Merlin F is being tested and it looks promising."
"We said that about the Merlin E too, Ernest. Do you have a team working on a super-Merlin?"
"There are two projects. One is a 24-cylinder double-Merlin, the other is a V12 with a larger bore. Coupled with 100 octane fuel we should be able to increase the power by 50%."
"The latter sounds more interesting because the former wouldn't fit into a Spitfire or Hurricane, nor the de Havilland or Westland designs for that matter. Bristol has a radial engine which should meet the Gloster requirements and hopefully we'll have an improved R-2600 soon too. Your V24 would be great for heavy bombers or in a Hurricane replacement for its ground-support role. Is a V14 Merlin feasible, Ernest?"
"Anything's possible, Bob but that would mean major changes in the engine-block production facilities."
"I was just thinking out loud. John, are you the using the delay to incorporate the variable pitch propeller?
"Yes, we are on both aircraft. How will the European Confederation change things for us?"
"Difficult to say because nothing has been decided yet. There is a genuine will to proceed in all three nations. I'll be travelling to meet the Germans again tomorrow in Hamburg. I'll know more on Monday. If we do form a confederation I'd propose that we have a three nation tender for a common fighter-aircraft. I'm sure the Spitfire would easily win."
"That would be a huge order," John commented.
"The Germans would want to produce it under licence because they have the capacity and before you protest let's pretend that the Germans have a better medium bomber. Wouldn't we want to produce it under licence too?"
"Our expansion programme hasn't changed?"
"Not at all. We still have the Soviet and Japanese problems. Once they realize how much this confederation will change the balance of power they may move their plans forward. We need to organize facilities in Australia."
"We're already working on that, Bob."
"Rolls-Royce too, Ernest?"
"It's a joint project."
"Excellent. I have to get back to London. Until next week sometime."
I said thank you and farewell to the RAE people then with Edward, Wilfrid and Jack Baldwin I drove back to London.