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).
The first flight tests of a direct-drive Condor IV engine in a Vickers Condor IV machine.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\N\July1925-September1925\ Scan267 | |
| Date | 1st September 1925 | |
| R.R. 493A (50 H) (D.D. 31, 12-6-25) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. ORIGINAL Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/TAG/1G17 9.25. To R.H. From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/TAG. c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RO.{C. C. Rose - Export Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} FLIGHT TESTS ON DIRECT DRIVE CONDOR IV. ENGINE. X3492 X3502 The Vickers Condor IV. machine made its first flight yesterday afternoon. The engine functioned splendidly and the pilot, Mr. Schofield, was delighted with the smoothness of the running at all speeds. Considering there is no gas starter fitted, the engine started wonderfully well by pulling the propeller round about four times and then turning the hand magneto. There was an 8 ft. dia. propeller fitted (four blades) and the r.p.m. at ground level was 1720, and Mr. Schofield said 2000 r.p.m. in the air. He merely flew yesterday to test the controls and rigging of the machine and did not give the engine much work the first time. He crashed the tail skid in landing and therefore the machine is held up for a few days pending the arrival of a new one, which is being made in the works. In the meantime we shall carry out the camshaft modification and fit the two-blade propeller that we tested at the Works (Derby). The machine itself is really a re-conditioned Vickers Vixen - two-seater - which had a Napier Lion in formerly. The nose is very blunt, so do not expect any speed records being established. The width of te nose just behind the contd :- | ||