[john]

I’ve always been fascinated by McCudden’s ability to tune his engine and climb to a much greater altitude than a “standard” SE5a. I know that the engine was a Wolsely Viper, a license built version the Hispano-Suiza V8 designed by Marc Birkigt, their Swiss designer. Question: Does anyone know exactly what McCudden did to his engine(s), to make them so much better than a standard one? Was it higher compression pistons? bigger carburetors? If anyone knows, please post a reply.