“That’s the Ki-Gass. You won’t have heard of that.” “Actually, Sir, I have one on my car.” This conversation took place between a high-ranking RAF Officer and myself, during the wartime 1940s. I was working on Air Publications (APs) to the RAF, and had been told to discover the engine-starting procedure of an aeroplane the identification of which, to my regret, I have forgotten.

There was amusement over my mission, because the plane was long obsolete. However, I had been delighted to get petrol to make the long drive in my 1926 Lancia Lambda, a rather scruffy car which the RAF boys gathered round with interest. The retired officer was asked to try to recall the aged aeroplane’s start-up procedures. We stood by the dusty cockpit. “Let’s see,” he said, “when warming-up, did we hold 1000 or 2000rpm? Better write 1500. Was oil pressure before we opened-up 50 or 60lbs? Put down 55,” and so on. I do not know how many aeroplanes had Ki-gass petrol-injectors; might that identify this one?