The development of the piston engines were the dominant mechanism for the rise in performance of the famous Messerschmitt and Spitfire aircraft until 1945. This lecture focuses on key technical and organizational differences between the German and British efforts which had key impacts on both the airframe aerodynamic design and engine characteristics of both aircraft.

Using access to unique archival material, including the personal papers of Professor Willy Messerschmitt, and the correspondence of Ernest Hives, Technical Director at Rolls-Royce, the audience will receive a guided tour through the key difficulties experienced by German and British aero-engine design engineers.

Calum Douglas worked in Germany for Toyota Motorsport GmbH applying Formula One engine technology to advanced technology demonstrator engines for Toyota Japan road cars division.

Returning from Germany he worked for Jaguar Land-Rover and Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains and now runs an engine design consultancy. He began investigating piston engine development in wartime archival records and has spent the last five years researching and writing about it alongside working.

He has been invited to speak worldwide to present his engine development historical research, from Scuderia-Ferrari Formula One in Italy, Rolls-Royce, the Royal Aeronautical Society, Renault-Sport and Mercedes AMG Formula-One engine and chassis technical centers