03/31/2009. In mid-1917, A.J. Rowledge started the design of a twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled V-engine that became known as the Napier Lion. The first Lion production example was tested in a D.H.9 (C6078) and first flown at Farnborough on February 16, 1918. On January 2, 1919, C6078 established a new altitude record at Martlesham, flown by Captain Andrew Lang and Observer Lieutenant Blowes, it climbed to 30,500 ft (9,296 m) in 66 min 15 sec. The C6078 was of similar configuration as the pictured D.H.9.