From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Flight consumption tests for the Kestrel engine at various altitudes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\2\ img019 | |
| Date | 17th October 1932 | |
| ORIGINAL R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Ha/Lov.{Mr Lovesey} Ag. Sor. Ry. Ry. C.F. C.F. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} L.P. Ha/LoV.{Mr Lovesey}6/ET.17.10.32. X1908. X2431. FLIGHT CONSUMPTION TESTS ON "KESTREL". Further flight consumption tests have been carried out on the Kestrel S. engine in the Fairey S.F to find the most economical consumption when cruising at 2100 r.p.m. at 10,000 ft. altitude. Similar results for altitudes of 2000 ft. and 6000 ft. were given in a previous Report. It was found that a reduction of 40 to 50 R.P.M. (or an estimated 6% reduction in power) by operation of the mixture control gave the most economical mixture, and the same reduction in revs. appears to hold good for the other altitudes at which we made the tests. We do not know yet if the reduction in R.P.M. remains constant for other throttle openings. On Curve 2, will be seen the approx. amount of mixture control needed to give the weakest consumption without loss of r.p.m. and the amount needed to obtain the condition of max. economy. It will be observed that the amount of A.C. movement past the "weakest maintained" position to obtain maximum economy decreases as the altitude increases. At 2000 ft. an additional 25° are required while at 10,000 ft. only an extra 15° are required. This appears quite reasonable because with increase of altitude the power will be less and the 6% reduction in power by the mixture control will be obtained with a smaller reduction in the actual fuel flow. Further tests are to be carried out to determine the most economical consumptions at various other cruising speeds and various altitudes. Ha/Lov.{Mr Lovesey} | ||