Men designed and flew The Spitfire in battle, but it was a woman called Beatrice Shilling who made it a truly great machine.

On the 27th of September last year David was able to tick off the no.1 item on his bucket list.

Before you ask, NO, it wasn't getting the It’s Clean logo tattooed on his back, that's item no.2. David ticked off flying in a genuine WW2 spitfire that was in action on D Day!

A spectacular and memorable once in a lifetime experience for David who he is fascinated by history.

The next week David came into the office still 'spit-fired' up with adrenaline from the weekend, telling the office all about this exhilarating experience. Starting with a history lesson on the backstory of the Spitfire in WW2, which to my surprise was a revelation of a story.

Are you sitting comfortably?

The spitfire was the only British fighter plane that was produced continuously throughout the war. There was one person who utilised the spitfire to make it even more of a triumph for Britain and that was a pioneering young engineer named Beatrice Shilling, nicknamed 'Tilly'. She played a huge part in helping Britain win WW2 as an innovative engineer to solve a critical design fault with the British spitfire.

The problem the spitfires had, occurred when they dived and encountered negative g-forces. The carburettor in the engine would flood, causing the engine to cut out - a pilot’s worst nightmare in a dogfight.

Come in Tilly.

Tilly was obsessed with the engineering of engines, just what Britain needed at this time in the war. Snapped up by the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1936; she became a leading specialist in aircraft carburettors.

The engine problem was putting allied pilots in grave danger therefore this issue needed to be solved right away! Tilly designed a simple brass disc with a small hole in it. She calculated the dimensions of the disc to allow just enough fuel for maximum power. As a bonus, the device could be added to the planes quickly and easily, without removing them from service.

This became known as the 'R.A.E restrictor', or as the pilots called it “Tilly’s Shilling”

This was a small adjustment but a crucial part of Britain's success in WW2 and helped to save hundreds of pilot’s lives.

Once David had finished the story I was gobsmacked, it showed me how every little nut and bolt in a machine matters for it to be able to work effectively. Just like in business, whether it’s our office or cleaning staff, every single person’s ideas and thoughts are valued, after all, one of these ideas could be the next ‘Tilly Shilling’ for It’s Clean!  

Is there a “Tilly Shilling” in your business?