Bristol Theseus
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox aero engine
The Theseus was the Bristol Aeroplane Company's first attempt at a gas-turbine engine design. A turboprop delivering just over 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) was chosen rather than compete with companies that were already developing turbojets. A heat exchanger to transfer waste heat from the exhaust to the compressor exit was necessary to meet a requirement for a fuel consumption comparable to a piston engine. However, the heat exchanger was abandoned after tests showed that it had a high pressure loss and only produced a fuel saving of 8%. Furthermore overall performance was reduced <ref>Making Jet Engines in World War II: Britain, Germany, and the United States', Hermione Giffard 2016, University of Chicago, p. 114-115</ref> <ref>Turbojet History And Development 1930-1960 Volume 1, Antony Kay2007, Template:ISBN, p.139</ref>
As well as being one of the first engines to feature a free propeller turbine, the Theseus was the first turboprop in the world to pass a type test in January 1947.<ref>http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%200602.html Template:Dead link</ref> Following 156 hours of ground runs and the receipt of a test certificate from the Ministry of Supply on 28 January 1947, two Theseus engines were fitted in the outer positions of a four-engined Avro Lincoln for air tests.<ref name="Flight1947">Template:Cite journal</ref> After ground and taxying test the Lincoln first flew on 17 February 1947.<ref name="Flight1947" />
The engine was also installed in two Handley Page Hermes 5 development aircraft.<ref>Gunston 1989, p.34.</ref>
It was soon superseded by the Proteus design with more power.
Applications
- Avro Theseus Lincoln<ref>Test bed only</ref>
- Handley Page Hermes 5
Bristol Theseus on public display
East Midlands Aeropark Castle Donington.
Variants
- Theseus Series TH.11
- Variant without heat exchanger. Ran for first time July 18, 1945
- Theseus Series TH.21
- Variant with heat exchanger. Ran for first time in December, 1945
- Theseus 502
Specifications (Theseus Th.21)
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. Template:ISBN
External links
- "Bristol Theseus I" a 1945 Flight article
- Development of the turboprop Flight 30 November 1950