This is an obviously standard HWK 109-509.A-1 motor, with an electric starter and large accessories gearbox.

Known History.

The RAF Museum operated a large artifact store at the airship construction facility at RAF Cardington. With changes at the RAF Museum, historical items gathered together from many sources, collected or donated over time were moved to a new storage unit at RAF Stafford. Prior to this move, John Scott-Scott of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust was looking through the store for Rolls-Royce memorabilia when he noticed that there were two Walter HWK 109-509.A-1 motors stored on pallets. He bid for the acquisition of one, to restore it to display condition, for the new Rolls-Royce Heritage museum currently under construction in Derby.

This motor had been in long term store with the RAF Museum for a number of years. It was transported to the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust workshops at Ansty, near Coventry in 2002, for a restoration process which took a small team some months to complete. It is now currently at the new Rolls-Royce Heritage collection in Derby, awaiting the opening of this facility to the public.

Pictured here is the motor showing it in a partially dismantled state just after its arrival at Ansty, showing the poor condition of the components after its protracted period of storage.

Description.

Following its restoration, this motor turns out to be a comparatively well preserved example. The electrical loom and connections are missing - removing the fire warning sensor is not an uncommon practice, as this item is usually wrapped in asbestos fibre, now considered a health hazard.

As can be seen from the data plate, this motor is from a batch made by Hellmuth Walter Komanditgesellschaft. Interestingly, the serial number, Wkr.Nr.T-1829 fits closely with three other motors preserved around the world, which appear to come from a manufacturing series (T-1813, T-1816, T-1817 (Santa Monica) ). It seems possible that they were all captured together, possibly at Walterwerke, or its manufacturing facility at Eberswalde, or maybe Husum, places where there were likely to be a number of sequential motors together.

All photographs © Shamus Reddin

The starboard forward three-quarters view of the motor, shows the classic HWK 109-509.A-1 configuration with electrical starter motor.

In this view of the starboard side of the motor, the manufacturer's data plate is shown clearly. The C-Stoff outflow for cooling, and return is shown. As is the electrical system cable duct, currently empty. The fuel flow and pressure equalising unit occupies its usual place, and the C-Stoff inlet to the fuel pump is seen at the bottom of the C-Stoff panel.

The forward face of the motor shows the large diameter T-Stoff pipe, and electric starter motor.

One interesting aspect of this motor is the details of the assembly of the frame. The three large bolts and washers holding the upper corner strengthening pieces.

This seems to be the standard (i.e. most common) configuration - as opposed to the other smaller riveted plates. Compare this motor with the fixing on the early pattern motor, the HWK 109.509.A-0 from the Messerschmitt Me.163B at Cosford. This difference might give a pointer to the position in the manufacturing series of the motor at the Minneapolis University. Maybe the Minneapolis motor is an early series motor.

The large accessories gearbox.

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