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Aero Engines Carlisle The WW2 Aero Engine Historical Society Members of the British Aviation Preservation Council |
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The purpose of this site is twofold: Firstly to bring together people and information about the greatest piston-engine of all time; the Rolls-Royce and Packard Merlin, built between 1937 and 1950. Secondly, as many of you will have noticed, over the years this site has been online, our own collection of engines has grown in number and diversity, and more people worldwide have seen the attraction in collecting and operating such engines. To this end, we have formed Aero Engines Carlisle, both in order to promote this growing hobby, and to enable us to interact as an official group with the British Aviation Preservation Council (BAPC). We welcome comment and questions from anyone with even a passing interest in the subject, and whilst this is more a technically-oriented site, anything goes, so please enjoy your visit! |
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45 cylinders, 90 spark plugs, 162 valves and just short of 6000hp lined up on the disused runway at Carlisle Airport, May 2006. |
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Image Gallery The image gallery, or photo archive is regularly updated with pictures from our events and in the workshop during the winter maintenance period. Please click on the photo or the link below. |
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Recent Updades Click on the blue coloured links to go straight to the most recent additions to the site. In addition, the Photo Archive will be added to on a regular basis. I have also added links to online video clips further down the page. |
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Recognise the above picture? This is part of another exciting new engine project that, as with the Welland, will provide a unique sound that has not been heard since WW2. Click below to see what it belongs to: |
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New Arrival! Sept 2nd 2007. Terry Jones takes delivery of his Bristol Hercules 230, ex Vickers Valetta C.2 VX577. Shown being unloaded by Bill Fern (pictured) from Aeroventure at Doncaster who kindly delivered the engine. We already have a suitable propeller from a Varsity, and plans for a trailer are underway. With no Hercules-powered aircraft currently flying in the UK it will make a welcome addition to our line-up. Apparently it is rated at 1925 hp, better make sure we start with a big fuel tank then! |
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August 2007: Merlin XX gets a new Hamilton Standard type 23-EX propeller which has been cropped to replicate the Rotol RX5 wooden bladed type which was originally fitted to this Beaufighter, albeit half the size. I think the finished result looks very good, probably more Focke-Wulf 190 than Beaufighter, but does allow the engine to run much more smoothly due to its weight, and pitch. During this winter I will be connecting up the Constant Speed Unit, or CSU, which is a hydraulic governor controlling blade pitch, and therefore engine power. The prop has already shown great potential in giving the Merlin its familiar "bark" which was not possible with the old 4 blader. |
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Audio / Video Clips Here are links to various online sound and video clips of our engines provided by other people. |
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Click on the image above to access an article on BBC Radio Cumbria, where you can click on a high quality sound recording of both this engine and a Spitfire in flight. |
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Since starting this website some 4 years ago, and having been attending public events regularly with my trusty Merlin engine for a similar period of time, everything has escalated around me, both in terms of people and exhibits, to the point where they have become almost a victim of their own success as bookings come in one after another for the same dates! Thankfully there are other like-minded people out there who are also building mobile aero-engine rigs which will help satisfy the demand. Three such people who are much closer to home are the other three founder-members of Aero Engines Carlisle; Robin Byers, who many of you will know already, Bill Richards of Bolton, who owns the Griffon 58, and last, but by no means least, is Terry Jones, also from Carlisle, Who not only looks after the Alvis Leonides engine, but has a much more exciting runner up his sleeve in the form of a W2B-23, Britains first turbojet engine! If you scan down the contents list on the left-hand side of the page, you will find a dedicated page for each of these engine projects, including the two Merlins Robin and myself are currently building. |
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Winter Maintenance 2006/7 Fairly easy one this time. Apart from the usual maintenance work on the two Merlins there is very little else outstanding, with the exception of the Griffon rebuild. The Merlin XX has proved to be in good health, with clean oil filters and a compression test revealing that the rings have bedded in to provide around 120psi compared to 105 typically after it was first rebuilt. The biggest task, as always, will be cleaning her. Any volunteers?! |
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DVD Now Available! NEW! 82 minute multi-region DVD with detailled footage of five different engines running at events and under test, walk-round a Merlin describing all the features, and workshop films showing what we get up to the rest of the time. Yes, I know, we should get out more, but what the hell, it`s to your advantage, this DVD is truly unique, and crammed with fascinating information for anyone even remotely interested in the technology of WW2, you may be quite surprised just how advanced we were 60 years ago. Only £15 Please see further details and worldwide postal charges on the "For Sale" page, or e-mail me using the link below. |
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One of many personal highlights of 2005. Hucknall Airfield, chatting with renowned Spitfire test pilot Alex Henshaw about our favourite subject. Alex sadly passed away in his sleep on 25th February 2007, aged 94. He leaves an outstanding legacy and has been an inspiration to so many. |
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