T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 24

33617A A/b shaw, R.A.F. Mount Batton, Plymouth. 29.X.31. Dear Flight Lieutenant Beauforte Greenwood, Progress report on 801. We ran short of No.1 spirit, and ran her on No. 3 for a while, No difference in revs, speed, or pressures. A very slight increase/ consumption. A falling off on acceleration. Increased difficulty in starting on cold mornings. If adopted for regular all-the-year-round use would recommend an auxiliary tank for Aviation gravity -fed to the carburettors, just for starting first thing of the day. The blade of the rudder fell off day before yesterday. No shock noted by anyone aboard. I was not present. A wounded porpoise is haunting the Cattlewater, now, but if we put up that suggestion the Gods would laugh. We have no cradle for the boat, so we lifted her stern with our R & R . Crane, and saw that the blade had really gone. Also the N.H. propellor has a bent blade, and the L.H. propellor has one blade torn to ribbons. We had noted engine vibration, and could not get more than 2500 revs. That is now explained. Damage at Calshot, or on the way down, for the revs have been constant since her arrl We have no spare Champion plugs, so tried the Lodge