Saturday 4th February 2023
Difficulty: Very hard
Beatrice Shilling (Quiz #78)
Beatrice Shilling (Public domain)
Beatrice Shilling (1909-1990) was a British aeronautical engineer and amateur racing driver. She invented "Miss Shilling's Orifice", which improved the performance of British fighters in the air during the Battle of Britain. Previously, pilots would experience a loss of power if they pitched the nose of their plane down, so they had to perform a half-roll before diving. Once "Miss Shilling's Orifice" was fitted, it became possible to pitch the nose straight into a dive.
1. The problem that Beatrice solved with “Miss Shilling’s Orifice” was the engine cutting out when a pilot pitched the nose of the plane down. Why did this happen?
2. Shilling raced motorbikes at Brooklands in the 1930s, and was awarded a BMCRC (British Motorcycle Racing Club) Gold Star for lapping the circuit at over 100 miles per hour. How many women had received this award before her?
3. Shilling married George Naylor in 1938 - but according to anecdote, she refused to marry him until... what?
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