On 10 Jan, 18:32, " wrote:
70 years ago there was an english inline 4 which has some

other tricks, the Major labored on well into the 1950's (as a
helicopter powerplant). *But I don't recall any exotic claims about
it's aluminum head. *I know you could run the early models on tractor
gas. *(Damn! *I can't remember the name of the little bipe that first
used the Gypsy. *The wings folded back.) *Anyway, the CR was about

Tiger moth used the Gypsy Major - no idea if it was the first.

I did about 15 hours (dual except for one solo) in
a Chipmunk in the early '70s behind a Gypsy Major
and only had one failure

One mag drive gear stripped leaving the mag going
round a bit, lots of popping and banging.
Oh, at 500ft on the way up.

Kept going enough to maintain level flight but it
was disapointing that we were not high enough to
jump out.

Try that without dual ignition! Would have
been in a load of **** in this case since the
shipyards and the river (fixed gear taildragger,
not recommended for ditching) were not inviting.
Don't suppose they would have been more inviting
under a parachute