royalflyingcorps

This and the adjacent photo (see below) in the collection are of the same cutaway Gnome 9-cylinder rotary engine (proof stampings, wear marks and tool marks are identical in both photos). A view of the two photos at the largest resolution reveals a "Gnome Engine Company - 47 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W." manufacturer's plate, and a serial of "Engine No. 30767". Presumably, this was a British license-built / British affiliate manufactured Gnome et Rhône 9-cylinder engine. Unfortunately, I haven't the knowledge to describe the variant of engine with any further specificity. Hopefully, another can use the engine's serial number and origin to provide more information. Unlike a radial engine, which featured a fixed cylinder block with rotating crankshaft, the rotary engine's crankshaft remains stationary and the entire cylinder block rotates. Before being cutaway for use in training, it is likely this engine was used on an aircraft (or a number of aircraft) until it was deemed unfit for further rebuild. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome_et_Rh%C3%B4ne

Thanks again for the information! I have updated the description for both of the images.

Those are Observer rather than pilot’s wings.

Absolutely!

Irish251 i-lenticularis (NO GRAPHICS) What does an observer do? Observe?

National Library of Ireland on The Commons He is the second crewman and would have had a mounted machine-gun, but the title derives, I think, from the Royal Flying Corps' original role which was general reconnaissance and spotting for ground artillery.

25 January 1918 was a Friday ...

At first sight I thought it was a dining room:-) Typical military, everything squared off on shipshape!

I can see that! I get the sense that this workshop was set up as a model and that actual workshops would have been somewhat less tidy.

Provincial Archives of Alberta I would have thought training for aircraft mechanics rather than workshop???? A real workshop would have been a lot less tidy, real work going on:-)

Yes, it probably was for training purposes. However, "workshop" is a good, broad, catch-all term in the absence of further information.