A friend on mine mentioned (taken from Jonathan Glancey’s book on Spitfire) that a V12 Curtiss D-12 engine was disassembled ‘under the eyes of Henry Royce’, eventually leading (via the Kestrel) to the development of the Rolls Royce Merlin.
The questions – I’ve established that a Fairey-imported Curtiss D-12 was given to RR for examination, but not the ‘under the eyes of Henry’ bit. Does anyone have the direct quote from Glancey, and (more critically) any primary source or reference to that being true?
Incredibly detailed technical arguments as to how this American innovation influenced RR not at all (or completely) also welcomed.
Thanks!
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th September 2010 at 15:09
Its priced at £0.01 from multiple sellers via Amazon (plus £2.75 postage) so could be worth getting hold of a copy. Or does,perhaps, the price says something about the content? I know nothing of the author or the book.
By: JDK - 14th September 2010 at 12:06
Thanks gents. I’d be interested in the quote from Glancey, if anyone has it.
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th September 2010 at 11:28
James,
A D-12 was indeed made available to RR at Derby in late 1925 at a time when the team there, under Hives and Rowledge, were already developing ideas for their own V12 urged on by the Air Ministry. Royce spent little time in Derby but maintained a close interest in the work there, although this was more interest than influence. For PR purposes RR liked to maintain the idea that Royce was still designing and making key decisions but this was not really the case. I think that it would be doubtful that he oversaw the examination. Initial work in Derby had been on a 16 cylinder ‘X’ configuration engine but this was soon dropped in favour of a V12 using the name Falcon although it had no direct connection with the earlier engine. The D-12 was very influential, as you would expect from such a successful engine.
RR had, and would continue to have, huge internal debates over whether they wished to be a major playing in the aircraft engine business. Hives built up a new research and development team from 1925 onwards and eventually prevailed, with Royce’s support, but it divided the board and led to the resignation of the chariman.
By: mmitch - 13th September 2010 at 11:23
In Alec Lumsden’s book ‘British Piston Aero engines and their aircraft’ It says
‘Royce looked at the D12 and despite its success, smooth running and low frontal area he didn’t care for it.’ Later on it says that ‘Royce decided to go for a development of the Falcon.’
mmitch.
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September 13, 2010 at 7:59 am