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Rolls-Royce Avon

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English

The Rolls-Royce Avon was the first axial flow jet engine designed and produced by Rolls-Royce. Introduced in 1950, the engine went on to become one of their most successful post-World War II engine designs. It was used in a wide variety of aircraft, both military and civilian, as well as versions for stationary and maritime power.

An English Electric Canberra powered by two Avons made the first un-refuelled non-stop transatlantic flight by a jet, and a BOAC de Havilland Comet 4 powered by four Avons made the first scheduled transatlantic crossing by a jet airliner.

Production of the Avon aero engine version ended after 24 years in 1974.<ref name="Gunston149">Gunston 1989, p. 149.</ref> Production of the Avon-derived industrial version continues to this day,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> by Siemens since 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The current version of the Avon, the Avon 200, is an industrial gas generator that is rated at Template:Cvt. As of 2011, 1,200 Industrial Avons have been sold, and the type has established a 60,000,000 hour record for its class.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Design and developmentEdit

The engine was initially a private venture put forward for the English Electric Canberra.<ref name="flightglobal.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Originally known as the AJ.65 for Axial Jet, 6,500 lbf the engine was based on an initial project concept by Alan Arnold Griffith.<ref name=gunston>"Rolls-Royce Aero Engines" Gunston, Bill, Patrick Stephens Limited 1989, Template:ISBN, p.131,132,133</ref> which combined an axial compressor with a combustion system and single-stage turbine using principles proven in the Rolls-Royce Nene engine.

Design work began in 1945. The Avon design team was initially headed by Stanley Hooker assisted by Geoff Wilde. Development of the engine was moved from Barnoldswick to Derby in 1948 and Hooker subsequently left the company, moving to Bristol Engines.<ref name=gunston/>

The first engine ran on 25 March 1947, with a 12-stage compressor. The engine was difficult to start, would not accelerate and broke first-stage blades.<ref name=gunston/> Two-position inlet guide vanes and compressor bleed were among the design changes which allowed the engine, as the RA.2, to run a 25-hour test<ref name="flightglobal.com"/> and fly in the two outboard positions on the converted Avro Lancastrian military serial VM732, from Hucknall on 15 August 1948.

The first production engine, which needed a two-stage turbine, was the RA.3, or Avon Mk 101. Several modified versions of this design were produced in the Mk. 100 series.

The Avon 200 series was a complete redesign having very little in common with earlier Marks. Differences included a completely new combustion section and a 15-stage compressor based on that of the Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire.<ref name="Gunston149"/> The first application was the Vickers Valiant.

Operational historyEdit

File:AvonandHunter.jpg
A Mark 122 – The rear fuselage of the Hawker Hunter can be removed for engine maintenance

The engine entered production in 1950 as the RA.3/Mk.101 with Template:Convert thrust in the English Electric Canberra B.2.<ref name="Gunston149"/> Similar versions were used in the Canberra B.6, Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift. Uprated versions followed, the RA.7/Mk.114 with Template:Convert thrust in the de Havilland Comet C.2, the RA.14/Mk.201, Template:Convert in the Vickers Valiant and the RA.26, Template:Convert used in the Comet C.3 and Hawker Hunter F.6.<ref>Force V: The history of Britain's airborne deterrent, by Andrew Brookes. Jane's Publishing Co Ltd; First Edition 1 Jan. 1982, Template:ISBN, p.31.</ref> An Avon-powered de Havilland Comet 4 flew the first scheduled transatlantic jet service in 1958. The highest thrust version was the RA.29 Mk.301/2 (RB.146) used in later versions of the English Electric Lightning. It produced Template:Convert<ref name="Sutton Publishing 2006, p.195">"World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines – 5th edition" by Bill Gunston, Sutton Publishing, 2006, p.195</ref> with afterburning. Other aircraft to use the Avon included the de Havilland Sea Vixen, Supermarine Scimitar and Fairey Delta2.

The RA.3/Mk.109 was produced under licence by Svenska Flygmotor as the RM5, and an uprated RA.29 as the RM6 with Template:Convert thrust. The RM5 powered the Saab 32 Lansen and the RM6 powered the Saab 35 Draken and all-weather fighter version of the Lansen (J 32B).

300 Avon 113s, and a larger number of Avon 203s<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> were produced under licence in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale Division Moteurs .Template:Citation needed

In the US the RA.28-49 was used in the VTOL Ryan X-13 Vertijet aircraft.

In Australia, the Avon was used by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in the CA-27 Avon-Sabre.

The Avon continued in production for the Sud Aviation Caravelle and English Electric (BAC) Lightning until 1974, by which time over 11,000 had been built. It remained in operational service with the RAF until 23 June 2006 in the English Electric Canberra PR.9.

Initial design work was done on the 2-spool RB.106/RB.128 as an Avon successor for large supersonic fighters.<ref name=gunston/>

Variants and designationsEdit

File:RR Avon.jpg
Rolls Royce Avon RA.3 Mk.101 at RAF Museum Cosford
AJ65
The original designation, standing for Axial Jet 6,500 lbf thrust
RA.1
Prototype engines for testing and development. RA standing for Rolls-Royce Avon.
RA.2
Pre-production engines for testing – Template:Convert<ref name="Lansen 27–32">Template:Cite book</ref>
RA.3
Civil designation for the first Avon production mark. First avon with a two-stage turbine.<ref name="Lansen 27–32"/> – Template:Convert
RA.7
Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon RA.3. Electrically started.<ref name="Lansen 27–32"/> – Template:Convert
RA.7R
RA.7 with reheat. Meant for use with an afterburner. Explosive-cartridge started. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with afterburner.<ref name="Lansen 27–32"/>
RA.14
Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon with can-annular combustion chamber and Sapphire style compressor – Template:Convert
RA.14R
RA.14 with reheat. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with afterburner.
RA.19
RA.19R
RA.19 with reheat. – Template:Convert with afterburner.<ref name="Lansen 105–106">Template:Cite book</ref>
RA.21
Production engine developed from the RA.7 – Template:Convert
RA.21R
Production engine developed from the RA.7R. Same as the Avon Mk.21.<ref name="Lansen 27–32"/> – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with afterburner.
RA.23R
RA.23 with reheat. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with afterburner.
RA.24
RA.24R
Same as the Avon Mk.47A.<ref name="Lansen 27–32"/>
RA.25
Civil Mk.503
RA.26
Further improvements to the Avon 200 series – Civil Mk.521
RA.28
Second generation variant – Template:Convert
RA.29
Civil designation for the Mk.300 series (used by the Sud Aviation Caravelle)
RA.29/1
RA.29/3
RA.29/6
Same as the Avon Mk.533 – Template:Convert<ref name="flight 1965">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

RB.146
Rolls-Royce designation for Avon Series 300<ref name="flight 1965"/>

Avon Series 100Edit

Avon Series 100 are early military versions of the Avon.

Avon Mk.100
Military designation for the RA.3 Avon – Template:Convert
Avon Mk.101C
Template:Convert<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Avon Mk.113
Avon Mk.114
Military designation for the RA.7 Avon – Template:Convert
Avon Mk.115
Same as the Avon Mk.23 – Template:Convert<ref name="Lansen 27–32"/>
Avon Mk.117
Avon Mk.118
Avon Mk.20
Australian version built on license by CAC for the CAC Sabre Mk.31 – Template:Convert<ref name="Roux">Template:Cite book</ref>
Avon Mk.21
Afterburning Swedish version built by RR and on license by SFA for the Saab 32A/C. Same as the RA.21R. Designated RM5A1. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with different afterburners.<ref name="Kontakt 86">Template:Cite book</ref>
Avon Mk.21A
Improved Mk.21 with increased diameter on the engine outlet for more power. Built by RR and on license by SFA for the Saab 32A/C. Designated RM5A2. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with different afterburners.<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Avon Mk.23
Same as the Avon Mk.115.<ref name="Lansen 27–32"/> Non-afterburning Swedish version built by RR for the Hawker Hunter Mk.50. Designated RM5B1.<ref name="Kontakt 86"/> – Template:Convert<ref name="RM5B">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Avon Mk.24
Non-afterburning Swedish version built by RR for the Hawker Hunter Mk.50. Designated RM5B2.<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Avon Mk.25
Non-afterburning Swedish version built by RR for the Hawker Hunter Mk.50. Designated RM5B3.<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Avon Mk.26
Australian version built by CAC for the CAC Sabre Mk.32 – Template:Convert<ref name="Roux"/>

Avon Series 200Edit

Avon Series 200 are uprated military versions of the Avon with can-annular combustion chamber and Sapphire style compressor.

Avon Mk.200
– Template:Convert
Avon Mk.47A
Afterburning Swedish version built by RR and on license by SFA for the Saab 32B. Same as the RA.24R. Designated RM6A. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with afterburner.<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Avon Mk.48A
Afterburning Swedish version built by RR and on license by SFA for the Saab 35A/B/C. Designated RM6B. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with afterburner.<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>

Avon Series 300Edit

Avon Series 300 are further developed military after-burning versions of the Avon for the English Electric Lightning.

Avon Mk.300
– Template:Convert
Avon Mk.301
The ultimate Military Avon for the English Electric Lightning – Template:Convert dry, Template:Convert wet.<ref name="Sutton Publishing 2006, p.195"/>
Avon Mk.302
Essentially similar to the Mk.301
Avon Mk.60
Afterburning Swedish version built by RR and on license by SFA for the Saab 35 Draken D/F. Same as the RA.29R. Designated RM6C. – Template:Convert without afterburner, Template:Convert with afterburner.<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Template:AnchorWestinghouse XJ54
Avon 300-series scaled-down by Westinghouse to 105 lb/sec airflow to produce 6,200 lb thrust.<ref>"World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines – 5th edition" by Bill Gunston, Sutton Publishing, 2006</ref>

Avon Series 500Edit

Avon Series 500 are civilian equivalents to the military Avon Series 200 variants.

Avon Mk.504
Avon Mk.506
Avon Mk.521
Avon Mk.522
Avon Mk.524
Avon Mk.524B
Avon Mk.525
Avon Mk.525B
Avon Mk.527
Avon Mk.527B
Avon Mk.530
Avon Mk.531
Avon Mk.531B
Avon Mk.532R
Avon Mk.532R-B
Avon Mk.533
Same as the RA.29/6 – Template:Convert<ref name="flight 1965"/>
Avon Mk.533R
Template:Convert
Avon Mk.533R-11A

Swedish designationsEdit

Reaktionsmotor 3A – RM3A
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.101C<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 5A1 – RM5A1
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.21<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 5A2 – RM5A2
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.21A<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 5B1 – RM5B1
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.23<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 5B2 – RM5B2
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.24<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 5B3 – RM5B3
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.25<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 6A – RM6A
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.47A<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 6B – RM6B
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.48A<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>
Reaktionsmotor 6C – RM6C
Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.60<ref name="Kontakt 86"/>

ApplicationsEdit

Military aviationEdit

Civil aviationEdit

Other usesEdit

  • The Avon is also currently marketed as a compact, high reliability, stationary power source. As the AVON 1533, it has a maximum continuous output of 21,480 shp (16.02 MW) at 7,900 rpm and a thermal efficiency of 30%. An example can be found at Didcot Power Station in the United Kingdom where four Avon generators are used to provide Black start services to assist in a restart of the National Grid in the event of a system-wide failure, or to provide additional generating capacity in period of very high demand. Template:Citation needed
  • As a compact electrical generator, the type EAS1 Avon based generator can generate a continuous output of 14.9 MW.Template:Citation needed
  • On 4 October 1983, Richard Noble's Thrust2 vehicle, powered by a single Rolls-Royce Avon 302 jet engine, set a new land-speed record of Template:Convert at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.

Surviving enginesEdit

Engines on displayEdit

File:Rolls Royce Avon-Temora.jpg
This is the Rolls Royce Avon engine on display at the Temora aviation museum, Australia

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  • A Rolls-Royce Avon engine is on public display in The Charlesworth Transport Gallery, at Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield.

Specifications (Avon 301R)Edit

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See alsoEdit

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ReferencesEdit

NotesEdit

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BibliographyEdit

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External linksEdit

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