Bristol Mercury VIII

[Marcel]

Does anyone know if the Bristol Mercury VIII suffered from negative G's, like many early engines, like the Merlin II?

[Eric Decamps]

Yes, this engine suffers to G as all aero-engines fitted with carburettor in which there is a float chamber.
The bristol Mercury VIII has claudel Hobson carburettor (type A.V.T.85.E )with double float chamber.
Westland lysander had a Bristol Mercury XX engine with a similar Hobson carburettor.
Hugh Verity in his book "We landed by moonlight" relates a lysander landing with bouncing which induces engine cut-out!
Boucing generates a series of sudden positiv and negativ G which were the cause of fuel starvation for the carburettor's fuel jets and so engine cut-out!

Regards

[Marcel]

Good info, thanks!