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).
Response to a report on the condition of a 'Demon' K.4498 aircraft's Kestrel engine, discussing bracing wires and sparking plugs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 58\2\ Scan308 | |
| Date | 13th March 1936 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst 86000 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}19/MH.{M. Huckerby}13.3.36 re "DEMON" K.4498 - KESTREL V.3725 FROM No. 604 SQUADRON - NOW AT HUCKNALL We were rather concerned to receive your report on the condition of the above, referred to in your Dor{Mr Dorey}/Cyr.9/EKB.5.2.36, as naturally we are anxious that the engines in service should be in first-class condition. As regards the condition of the bracing wires and engine mounting, etc., this, we suggest, might easily be accounted for by the strenuous aerobatics which have been carried out by this aircraft prior to it being delivered to Hucknall in order to demonstrate the cutting out complaints. We also understand that this aircraft was tested by one of your pilots at Hendon and, as far as we can make out, no adverse comments were made at that time; otherwise the Services would have been only too pleased to have corrected same. As regards the condition of the sparking plugs, on the face of it one would think that the sparking plugs are unfit for use, but we are assured by our tester at Hendon that on the various ground tests which he made on this engine the ignition was quite satisfactory, but in order to make sure that there was no doubt on this point, in view of the cutting out trouble, a set of fresh plugs were fitted, these being reconditioned plugs supplied direct from No.4 Stores Depot and had, we understand, been supplied from the makers after overhaul. It certainly seems from this report that there may be a difference of opinion on method of testing plugs, between the makers and ourselves, and possibly Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst will go into this, as we do not wish to perpetuate complaints of this type. We feel sure you will appreciate that we are not trying to dispute the facts as they are, but rather trying to get somewhere which will prevent such things occurring again. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||