WW1 Rotary engines
Hi
While browsing my dad's copy of "Practical Classics" (a classic car restoration mag, for those not familiar) i came across an article on the Wankel Rotary engine. One paragraph in particular caught my eye, it read:
"The only true rotary engines ever to be used were in World War 1 fighter aeroplanes....these aeroplanes were constricted by only being able to run at full power, and were controlled by having a Magneto "Blip" switch which was used to temporarily switch the engine off on final approach"
Now i always thought that the Sopwith camels, SPADs etc all had a throttle as well as this blip switch, and the blip switch was used for taxiing so as not to get away from ground handlers etc.
anyone care to shed some light on this please?
Many thanks,
Matty