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The Spitfire

Contrary to what books and TV documentaries say, I believe the Merlin engine used in Spitfires was not designed by Henry Royce with his mythical "walking-stick in the sand", but by Arthur Rowledge MBE, FRS, FRAS., who was Royce's Chief Assistant from 1921.
Rowledge worked for Napier before joining Wolseley at Adderley Park in Birmingham in 1905 (living in Dora Road, Small Heath), where he designed an advanced, innovative, V8 hydroplane engine and was instrumental in helping to design Wolseley sleeve valve motor car engines under development in 1913.
Rowledge returned to Napier in 1913 as Chief Designer, and designed the record breaking Napier Lion aero engine, but left that company in 1921 to join Rolls-Royce as Chief Assistant to Henry Royce.
His first task at Rolls-Royce was to redesign all their dated aero engines and he later designed and developed the racing aero engines for the Supermarine aircraft which won the Schneider Trophy races in 1929 and 1931.
Unfortunately, Rowledge has never received the recognition he so richly deserves.
Boomy.
 
I agree, for modern art it's very good. Sadly there are some others I would not classify so kindly.
There is an element of geographical ‘snobbery’ in the country regarding art especially industrial art as I class it. Anything from London is art immediately, yet regionally art is often critiqued or discounted by the so called elitists.
My personal favourites of industrial art are , The Sleeping Giant (Bluenose) , Spitfire Island, Pump Island, and the Golden Boys .
 
The plaque at the base of the sculpture at spitfire island by its correct title ‘Sentinel’ , to me this represents Birmingham and it’s resilience during enduring times and its innovational spirit to move forward
 

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