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).
Historical summary of the first family of aero engines from 1916 to 1919.
| Identifier | Morton\M18\ img089 | |
| Date | 11th February 1913 guessed | |
| 3. 1916-1919 The first family of Rolls-Royce aero engines In August 1914 Britains Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service went to war with about 66 aeroplanes between them half of them British and half French, but all powered by foreign engines of 70 or 80 hp. Rolls-Royce was quickly brought in to help build up a British aero-engine industry geared to the needs of all-out war, embracing aerial activity on a large scale. By Armistice Day in November 1918 27,000 British aero-engines had been produced, and the Rolls-Royce contribution to this number had been some 6,500 engines but, calculated on a horse-power basis, 5/8 of the Allied aero-engine horse-power had come from Rolls-Royce engines. Three types had been designed, built and supplied to suit the needs of Bombers, Reconnaissance, Fighter and anti-submarine patrol aircraft and airships. Even more significant, these engines had established an unequalled reputation for reliability under the most arduous service conditions. This was clearly demonstrated by the choice of Rolls-Royce aero engines for a crop of successful pioneering long-distance flights which were made in 1919, notably the first direct crossing of the North Atlantic by Alcock and Brown in their Vickers Vimy bomber. | ||