| Gnome | |
|---|---|
| |
| Rolls-Royce Gnome at the Imperial War Museum Duxford | |
| Type | Turboshaft |
| Manufacturer | de Havilland Engine Company Bristol Siddeley Rolls-Royce |
| First run | 5 June 1959 |
| Major applications | Westland Sea King Westland Wessex Westland Whirlwind |
| Developed from | General Electric T58 |
The Rolls-Royce Gnome is a British turboshaft engine originally developed by the de Havilland Engine Company as a licence-built General Electric T58, an American mid-1950s design.[1] The Gnome came to Rolls-Royce after their takeover of Bristol Siddeley in 1966, Bristol having absorbed de Havilland Engines Limited in 1961.
A licence to manufacture the T58 was purchased in 1958. The T58 had begun bench testing in 1955[2] and by 1958 had already been used in helicopters and de Havilland were able to test their first engines in a Westland Whirlwind and Wasp helicopters in August 1959 and March 1960 respectively.[3]
A free-turbine turboshaft, it was used in helicopters such as the Westland Sea King and Westland Whirlwind. The design was sub-licensed to Alfa-Romeo.[4]
There were two series produced: the "H" turboshaft for helicopter use, and the "P" turboprop for fixed-wing aircraft.[3]
- ^ Gunston 1989, p.155.
- ^ "Aeroengines 1960". Flight. 18 March 1960. p. 383. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Aeroengines 1960". Flight. 18 March 1960. p. 370. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Turbine Engines of the World". Flight. 4 January 1973. p. 36. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.