Born: 8 March 1909, United Kingdom
Died: 18 November 1990
Country most active: United Kingdom
Also known as: Beatrice Naylor
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Beatrice Shilling was a multi-talented British woman born at Waterlooville, Hampshire. She excelled in aeronautical engineering, motorcycle racing, and sports car competitions.
During World War II, Shilling’s engineering skills came to the forefront. She designed the RAE-Hobson injection carburetor, a solution that addressed the issue of power loss in Rolls-Royce Merlin aeroplane engines during negative-g maneuvers. Additionally, she contributed to projects like the Blue Streak missile, researched wet runway effects on braking, and assisted in building a bobsled for the Royal Air Force’s Olympic team.
Shilling was one of only three women to earn the British Motorcycle Racing Club Gold Star. Her accomplishment stemmed from lapping the challenging Brooklands circuit at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) on a motorcycle. In the realm of sports car racing, she secured several podium finishes at the Goodwood Circuit Members’ Meetings.