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9th February 2021 10:37 am 9th February 2021 10:37 am
Beatrice Shilling’s engineering fix to a major design flaw in World War Two Hurricane and Spitfire fighter plane engines contributed to the eventual outcome of the Battle of Britain. Written by Nick Smith
It was only a brass washer in the shape of a thimble. But it stopped Britain’s Merlin engine carburettors flooding in temporary negative-g manoeuvres such as a nosedive or inverted flight. While the RAF toiled over a long-term solution to their engines cutting out in combat, an engineer by the name of Beatrice Shilling pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the form of an ingenious workaround. Her ‘RAE Restrictor’ had been designed to allow just enough fuel to maintain power while preventing flooding, and crucially, the device could be fitted without removing planes from operation. RAF pilots referred to the innovation as ‘Mrs Shilling’s Orifice’, a ribaldry that has amused engineering students of a certain
Alida community extends sincere sympathy to Ann Kendall and their family on the death of her husband and their father Dennis Kendall of Carievale. He passed away suddenly at his residence on Dec. 5 at the age of 75 years. Dennis worked in the oilfield until he bought and moved to the family farm in 1978. He was a councillor for the R.M. of Reciprocity No. 32. He loved being a father, grandfather, a farmer and a water hauler until his death. Dennis leaves to mourn his death his wife Ann, sons Bill (Maria) Kendal of Castlegar, B.C., Randy Kendall of Carievale and daughter Sherry (Roger) Fielding of Foam Lake; two granddaughters Kayla and Hailey; three sisters, Barbara (Barry) Gillies of Estevan, Margaret Partridge of Medicine Hat, Alta., Joy (Gary) Steinke of Outram; two brothers, Claude (Anne) Kendall of Millet, Alta., Malcolm (Nola) Kendall of Carievale, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Willie and Maude Kendall, in-laws Bruce and Lena Webb, bro