Beatrice Shilling: Speed Junkie, Mechanical Engineer, Inventor

“Miss Shilling’s Orifice” Saved Spitfires from being shot down

Beatrice Shillings was a fix-it extraordinaire. Her talents at fixing all things mechanical finally led her to the RAE Restrictor which prevented Spitfires from engine failure in negative G dives. THis was especially important when dogfighting Axis fighters like the Bf-109 or Me190 which were fuel injected and did not have this issue. Almost all Allied aircraft were carbureted which needed a level surface of gravity for them to work. Her invention permitted these carbs to retain fuel for a short time under negative Gs allowing the Spitfire to go after diving enemy planes. She was also a voracious motorbike racer and later got into car racing. She invented the pressure carburetor and was instrumental in many other inventions after the war. She was never fully accepted by her peers even with a Masters Degree in mechanical engineering. She was awarded OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1949 for her life saving invention. Never underestimate biker chicks.

Sometimes the smallest things have the biggest impact. Valor is in you. Set it free.