| Gnome | |
|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce Gnome at the Imperial War Museum Duxford | |
| Type | Turboshaft |
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce |
| First run | 5 June 1959 |
| Major applications | Westland Whirlwind Westland Wessex Westland Sea King |
| Developed from | General Electric T58 |
The Rolls-Royce Gnome is a single spool turboshaft engine originally developed by the de Havilland Engine Company as a licence-built General Electric T58—a 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 free-turbine turboshaft, it was used in helicopters such as the Westland Sea King and Westland Whirlwind. The design was sub-licenced to Alfa-Romeo.[2]
There were two series produced: the "H" turboshaft for helicopter use, and the "P" turboprop for fixed-wing aircraft.[3]
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A single-stage turbine drives the 10 stage all-axial compressor, whilst a two-stage free power turbine drives the load. The combustor is annular. The Gnome differed from the T-58 in having a British developed fuel control system (Lucas).
Because an all-axial design is employed, the final stage compressor rotor blades are amongst the smallest ever manufactured. Normally, a small engine such as this would feature an axial/centrifugal or even a double centrifugal compressor.
The engine was one of the first developed with an analogue computer, de Havilland's own, as part of the fuel control system, specifically to control fuel flow during acceleration to prevent engine surge from occurring.[4]
Rolls-Royce Gnome engines are on display at the following museums:
Data from Flight[5]
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