TheRolls-Royce RB.53 Dartis aturbopropengine designed and manufactured byRolls-Royce Limited.First run in 1946, it powered theVickers Viscounton its maiden flight in 1948. A flight on July 29 of that year, which carried 14 paying passengers betweenNortholtandParis–Le Bourget Airportin a Dart-powered Viscount, was the first regularly scheduled airline flight by a turbine-powered aircraft.[1]The Viscount was the first turboprop-powered aircraft to enter airline service -British European Airways(BEA) in 1953.
| Dart | |
|---|---|
| |
| Rolls-Royce Dart RDa. 3 Mk506 | |
| Type | Turboprop |
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce Limited |
| First run | 1946 |
| Major applications | Avro 748 Breguet Alizé Fokker F27 Grumman Gulfstream I Vickers Viscount |
| Number built | more than 7,100 |
The Dart was still in production forty years later when the lastFokker F27 FriendshipsandHawker Siddeley HS 748swere produced in 1987.
Following the company's convention for naming gas turbine engines after rivers, this turboprop engine design was named after theRiver Dart.
History
editDesigned in 1946 by a team led by Lionel Haworth, the Dart engine was derived using experience gained from the earlier more powerfulRolls-Royce Clydeturboprop. A two-stage centrifugal compressor was specified to achieve the desired overall pressure ratio. A 3 stage, shared load, axial turbine was used to drive both the load (via a reduction gearbox) and the compression system. A photo showing a cutaway section of typical Dart engine is given below.
Unlike the Clyde, the engine lacked a free power turbine. Consequently, under normal operating conditions, the power delivered to the propeller could not be modulated at a fixed prop speed.[2]
The Dart was initially rated at 890 shp and first flew in October 1947 mounted to the nose of a convertedAvro Lancaster.
Improvements in the design boosted power output to 1,400 shp in the RDa.3, which went into production for the Viscount in 1952. The RDa.6 increased power to 1,600 shp and the RDa.7 to 1,800 shp by incorporating various improvements including a larger diameter second impeller.
Later Darts were rated up to 3,245 shp and remained in production until 1987, with approximately 7,100 produced, flying some 170 million hours.[3]
The Dart was also produced under licence in India byHindustan Aeronautics Limited.[4]
Haworth and his team later went on to design and develop the larger and more powerfulRolls-Royce Tyne.[5]
Variants
editAs well as the RB.53 designation each mark of Dart engine was allocated aMinistry of Supply(MoS) "RDa.n" number as well as Mk.numbers.
- RDa.1
- Initial prototype engines – 1,250 shp plus 300lb residual thrust[6]
- RDa.2
- Initial production engines
- RDa.3
- 1,480 hp (1,103.64 kW) estimated power – 1,345 hp (1,002.97 kW) shaft power + 350 lbf (1.56 kN) residual thrust at 14,500 rpm
- RDa.6
- 1,670 hp (1,245.32 kW) estimated power – 1,535 hp (1,144.65 kW) shaft power + 350 lbf (1.56 kN) residual thrust at 14,500 rpm
- RDa.7
- 1,815 hp (1,353.45 kW) estimated power – 1,630 hp (1,215.49 kW) shaft power + 480 lbf (2.14 kN) residual thrust at 15,000 rpm
- RDa.7/1
- 1,910 hp (1,424.29 kW) estimated power – 1,730 hp (1,290.06 kW) shaft power + 470 lbf (2.09 kN) residual thrust at 15,000 rpm
- RDa.7/2
- 2,020 hp (1,506.31 kW) estimated power – 1,835 hp (1,368.36 kW) shaft power + 485 lbf (2.16 kN) residual thrust at 15,000 rpm
- RDa.7 Mk 21
- 2,099 hp (1,565.22 kW) estimated power - used forBréguet 1050 Alizé
- RDa.7/2 Mk.529
- 2,100 hp (1,565.97 kW) estimated power – 1,910 hp (1,424.29 kW) shaft power + 495 lbf (2.20 kN) residual thrust at 15,000 rpm
- RDa.10
- 2,555 hp (1,905.26 kW) estimated power – 2,305 hp (1,718.84 kW) shaft power + 670 lbf (2.98 kN) residual thrust at 15,000 rpm
- RDa.10/1
- 3,030 hp (2,259.47 kW) estimated power – 2,750 hp (2,050.67 kW) shaft power + 750.4 lbf (3.34 kN) residual thrust at 15,000 rpm
- RDa.10/1
- 3,245 hp (2,419.80 kW) estimated power at 15,000 rpm, with Water/Methanol injection for theHawker-Siddeley HS.748MF Andover C Mk.1.
- RDa.11
- Mk.506
- (RDa.3)
- Mk.510
- (RDa.6)
- Mk.511
- (RDa.6)
- Mk.512
- (RDa.6)
- Mk.514
- (RDa.6)
- Mk.520
- (RDa.7)
- Mk.525
- (RDa.7/1)
- Mk.526
- (RDa.7/2)
- Mk.527
- (RDa.7/2)
- Mk.528
- (RDa.7/2)
- Mk.529
- (RDa.7/2)
- Mk.530
- (RDa.7/2)
- Mk.531
- (RDa.7/2)
- Mk.551
- (RDa.7)
- Mk.552
- (RDa-7)
- Mk.540
- (RDa.10)
- Mk.541
- (RDa.11)
- Mk.542
- (RDa.10/1)
Applications
edit
Largely associated with the very successfulVickers Viscountmedium-rangeairliner,it powered a number of other European and Japanese designs of the 1950s and 60s and was also used to convert American-manufactured piston aircraft to turboprop power. The list includes:
- Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy:Medium-range transport
- Aviation Traders Accountant:Cancelled prototype airliner
- Avro 748(Hawker Siddeley H.S. 748): Feeder airliner.
- Avro Athenaone prototype aircraft only: Military trainer
- Breguet Alizé:Anti-submarine aircraft: Dart RDa 21 2099 hp withwater/methanol injection
- Cavalier Turbo Mustang III
- Fairchild F-27:Small airliner, U.S. manufactured version of theFokker F27 Friendship.Two versions: F27A and F27B
- Fairchild Hiller FH-227:Airliner, U.S. manufactured version of theFairchild F-27featuring a stretched fuselage with increased passenger seating
- Fokker F27 Friendship:Small airliner from Dutch aerospace and aviation manufacturerFokker.The original model on which several other airliners were based (such as the abovementioned F-27 and FH-227).
- Grumman Gulfstream I(G-159): Executive transport & small airliner. Includes the stretched Grumman Gulfstream I-C (G-159C).
- Handley Page Dart Herald:Small airliner
- Hawker Siddeley Andover:Military transport
- NAMC YS-11:Short/medium range airliner (Japanese aircraft)
- SomeDouglas DC-3transport aircraft have been upgraded to use Darts. DC-3s in BEA service with this update were called Pionairs. Another conversion is theConroy Turbo Three.
- Convair 600andConvair 640converted fromConvair 240,Convair 340andConvair 440piston-powered aircraft: Small airliners
- Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress:A unique one was converted by Aero-Flite Company with 4x Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines and was used forfire fighting.[7][8]
Power output was around 1,500 hp (1,120 kW) in early versions, and close to twice that in later versions, such as those that powered theNAMC YS-11airliner. Some versions of the engine were fitted with water methanol injection, which boosted power in hot and high altitude conditions.
Engines on display
edit
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on public display at theRoyal Air Force Museum Cosford.[9]
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on display at theRolls-Royce Heritage Trust(Derby).
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on public display at theGatwick Aviation Museum.[10]
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on public display at theNational Air and Space Museum.[11]
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on public display atCanadian Museum of Flight.[12]
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on public display at theAustralian National Aviation Museum.[13]
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on public display at theAviation Heritage Museum (Western Australia).[14]
- A Rolls-Royce Dart is on display atBrooklyn Technical High School
- A Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 is on public display at theCity of Norwich Aviation MuseuminHorsham St Faith, Norfolk.[15]
Specifications (Dart RDa.7)
edit
Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66.[16]
General characteristics
- Type:Turboprop
- Length:97.6 in (2,480 mm)
- Diameter:37.9 in (960 mm)
- Dry weight:1,207 lb (547 kg) (dry)
Components
- Compressor:Two-stagecentrifugal compressor
- Combustors:7 straight-flow combustion chambers with ignitors in No 3 and 7 chambers
- Turbine:3-stage axial turbine
- Fuel type:Kerosene
- Oil system:Self contained, 25 pint (14 L) capacity oil tank
Performance
- Maximum power output:1,815 ehp (1,354 kW) (1,630 shp (1,220 kW)) at 15,000 rpm
- Overall pressure ratio:5.62:1
- Air mass flow:23.5 lb/s (10.66 kg/s)
- Specific fuel consumption:0.581 lb/(ehphr)
- Power-to-weight ratio:1.35shp/lb (2.48 kW/kg)
See also
editComparable engines
Related lists
References
editNotes
edit- ^Turner 1968, p. 9.
- ^https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422ef5f40f0b6134200023b/dft_avsafety_pdf_500083.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^"World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines – 5th edition" byBill Gunston,Sutton Publishing, 2006, p.195
- ^Taylor 1982, p. 736.
- ^"World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines – 5th edition" byBill Gunston,Sutton Publishing, 2006, p.197
- ^"gear box | strut gear | oil tank | 1953 | 0371 | Flight Archive".flightglobal.Archived fromthe originalon 19 May 2015.
- ^"Tails Through Time: The Turboprop B-17 Flying Fortress".tailsthroughtime.Archived fromthe originalon 25 March 2016.Retrieved5 April2016.
- ^Johnsen, Frederick."Airailimages".Kenneth G. Johnsen.
- ^Royal Air Force Museum Cosford – Rolls-Royce DartArchived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machinerafmuseum.org.uk Retrieved: 31 July 2012
- ^"GATWICK AVIATION MUSEUM - AERO ENGINES".gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 14 February 2004.
- ^"Rolls-Royce Dart Mk. 520 Turboprop Engine, Cutaway | National Air and Space Museum".airandspace.si.edu.Archived fromthe originalon 20 September 2015.
- ^"Rolls-Royce Dart 506".
- ^"Rolls Royce Dart".Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved11 November2015.
- ^"Aviation Heritage Museum | Bull Creek, Perth".
- ^"Engines List".City of Norwich Aviation Museum.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^Taylor 1965, pp. 485–6.
Bibliography
edit- Gunston, Bill.World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines.Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989.ISBN1-85260-163-9
- Taylor, John W. R.Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66.London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company Ltd, 1965.
- Taylor, John W. R.Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83.London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982.ISBN0-7106-0748-2.
- Turner, P. St. John.Handbook of the Vickers Viscount.London: Ian Allan, 1968.ISBN978-0711000520.
External links
edit
- Vickers Viscount and RR Dart history
- "The Story of the Dart"a 1953Flightarticle
- "Dart Development"a 1955Flightarticle on the Dart
- "Dart in Overhaul Shop photos"Fields Airmotive Dart Page with photos of Dart disassembled