by schneiderman » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:22 am
Hi Ian,
Hmmm, I'd take that article on the RAF Museum website with a healthy dose of salt, it's riddled with errors. There is no indication that the Mercury racer was ever designed for any engine other than the Packard in reliable sources. As this X engine was built for the Navy, was always experimental, only used in racers and was 'loaned' to Williams and his syndicate, plus the fact that unit intended for the race was still under test when the Schneider entry was withdrawn, could give rise to the idea that there was a secret Navy engine.
The Vega-like features of the model would be the high-mounted cantiliver wing with tarpered plan and a general similarity in shape of the fin, rudder and tailplane. Not suggesting any direct family relationship, just the possibility that they came from the pen of the same designer. The deep and narrow fuselage, presumably dictated by the choice of engine, is curious. The central thrust line suggests either an offset geared V engine or a variation on the X, but the absence of any shaped cowlings over the cylinder banks is odd.
Ciao