Thanks Andy – will add that number to my database.

Ralph, there are a lot of E numbers in Alan’s book arranged in ‘families’ rather than numerical order but not sure if they’re all there. Numerical list might prove useful thanks.

Roger Smith.

Thanks for that Andy. Is it possible you could supply list of what other markings you got off it?

Roger Smith.

Reply from Seaham ATC – they DONT have a Lion!! – it may be a faint possibility that the third Sea Lion at Solent Sky may be this one??? hoping when I get a reply from SS we may know more.

Attended a talk by Alan Vessey of NPHT last Tuesday and bought a copy of his recent book “By Precision into Power” (ISBN 978 0 7524 388 7). I’m hoping his book along with a listing supplied by NPHT and various dips into Flightglobal suggested by schneiderman will provide the basis for an “how to recognise what Series Lion engine this is” table.

Here’s an up-dated serial number list (thanks to schneiderman for his additions) and have noted from the Amherst Villiers thread that 63007 was removed from Gloster IV, N224 before he purchased it. I have also changed from “Mk.” to “Srs.” as it seems that was how Napiers configured them. Haven’t fully worked out the Napier “E” numbering system 🙂

Napier Lion – known serial numbers

23815 Srs.V Preserved at R.A.F.Museum, Hendon

25239 Srs.1B Preserved at Imperial War Museum, Duxford

39645 Srs.V Preserved at Science Museum

50095 Srs.I Preserved at Portugese Air Museum

50108 Srs.V Preserved by R.C.Shelley, Billericay? Ex Blackburn Velos G-AAAW

50179 Srs.VII Preserved at R.A.F.Museum, Hendon (RAFM unable to confirm no.)

50479 Srs.V Preserved at R.A.F.Museum, Cosford (RAFM unable to confirm no. or mark)

51383 Srs.VA Preserved/under rebuild by Andy/racer2UK

62001 Srs.VII Fitted to Gloster III N195 in 1927

62015 Srs.VII Fitted to Gloster III N194 in 1926

62418 Srs.VIII was thought to be preserved at Solent Sky but not there?

63006 Srs.VIIA Fitted to Supermarine S5 N219 for 1927 Schneider Trophy contest

63007 Srs.VIIA Fitted to Gloster IV, N224. Possibly removed from aircraft before sale to Amherst Villiers in May, 1930.

63009 Srs.VIIA Fitted to Gloster IVA, N222. Last in use in 1931.

63016 Srs.VIIA Preserved at Science Museum – fitted in powerboat “Miss England”

63017 Srs.VIIA Preserved at National Motor Museum – fitted in “Golden Arrow” speed record car

63101 Srs.VIIB Preserved at Solent Sky (owned NPHT) Fitted to Gloster IVB, N223. Aircraft written off 10/12/30

63103 Srs.VIIB Fitted to Gloster IVB, N223 for 1927 Schneider Trophy contest.

63106 Srs.VIIB Fitted to Supermarine S5 N220 for 1927 Schneider Trophy contest

63307 Srs.VIID Preserved at Think Tank, Birmingham in Railton speed record car

63308 Srs.VIID Preserved at Think Tank, Birmingham in Railton speed record car

66017 Srs.XIA Preserved at Camden Air Museum Australia

66113 Srs.XIA Preserved incomplete at Brooklands Museum. Ex Fairey Long Range Monoplane. Owned by RAFMuseum (RAFM unable to confirm no.)

66114 Srs.XIA Preserved at Brooklands Museum in Napier-Railton speed record car

66948 Sea Lion Preserved at Omaka, Blenheim, NZ.

Mostly preserved engines except those in italics R.P.Smith – 16/11/08

With the substantial enlargement of this list the two engines that now stick out like the proverbial “sore thumb” are 23815 the Srs.V at Hendon and 50095 a Srs.I in Portugal (anyone speak Portugese?). The Srs. VIII gone AWOL from Solent Sky is also “out of sequence”. I hope I might be able to get some numbers off the two Lions at Shuttleworth and Cosford (both Srs.Vs) in the next couple of weeks. If I can will it make it clearer or not??

Roger Smith.