ROLLS-ROYCE from the WINGS
The Man who put the Merlin in the Mustang
Signed by RW Harker OBE
Inscribed & signed on the title page by
Ronnie Harker
Inscribed to Harry Swift and his wife at Xmas 1977. Harry Swift OBE was a former General Manager of the Aero Production Division of Rolls-Royce, Derby in the 1940s and later became a consultant to Ernest Hives. The letters ‘Sft’ and ‘Hkr’ were the Rolls-Royce personnel codes assigned to identify senior staff for use on internal documents.
Oxford Illustrated Press First edition 1976. 168 pages and well illustrated with photographs and illustrations.
A Near Fine condition hardback book in a Near Fine condition unclipped dustjacket. A smart copy in all respects.
The memoir of a test pilot who had a fascinating flying career with Rolls-Royce during a particularly exciting time of military aircraft and engine development. He was in fact, the first test pilot appointed by RR. Although the job of an engine test pilot was less glamorous to the general public than that of a manufacturer test pilot, his role was vital and involved close liaison with squadron pilots. This ensured that RR got early feedback on issues and that the operational pilots understood how to get optimum performance from the engines. This was particularly important throughout the introduction and development of the Merlin.
It was Harker who, after a 30 minute flight in an Allison engine Mustang, persuaded the company to install a Merlin engine thereby producing arguably the best fighter of WWII. Ever afterwards Harker was known as “the man who put the Merlin in the Mustang”. Post-war he stepped back from flying and joined the military sales team. He was instrumental in developing and selling (or trying to) RR engines to air forces around the world until RR got into trouble with the civil RB-211 which bankrupted it.
An absorbing read with plenty of famous names scattered through the narrative; Harker seems to have known everyone! With the scarce signature of Ronnie Harker, who died aged 90 in 1999 in New Zealand, this book is a fantastic addition to an aviation collection.