Boeing T50 Explained

The Boeing T50 (company designation Model 502) was a small turboshaft engine produced by Boeing. It was the first turboshaft engine to ever power a helicopter: a modified Kaman K-225 in 1951.^[1] Based on Boeing's earlier Model 500 gas generator, the T50's main application was in the QH-50 DASH helicopter drone of the 1950s. An up-rated version designated Model 550 was developed to power the QH-50D and was given the military designation T50-BO-12.

Two T50 were tested on a HTK-1 (Kaman HH-43 Huskie) in the 1950s, which was the first test of twin turbine engine on a helicopter.^[2]

Variants

T50-BO-1:

T50-BO-2:

T50-BO-4:270abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 6,000 output rpm, military rating turboprop.^[3]

T50-BO-6:

T50-BO-8:300abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 5,950 output rpm, revised reduction gear ratio, fuelsystem and other changes.^[3]

T50-BO-8A:

T50-BO-10:330abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 6,000 output rpm^[3]

T50-BO-12:

502-1-1:Auxiliary power unit

502-2E:Turboprop, 175abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 2,900 output rpm max. continuous at sea level.^[4]

502-7B:Compressed air generator.^[4]

502-8A:Turboshaft.^[4]

502-8B:Turboprop, 210abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 37,500 compressor rpm for take-off.^[4]

502-10B:Turboprop, 270abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 37,500 compressor rpm for take-off.^[4]

502-10C:Turboshaft power unit / gas producer

502-10F:^[5]

502-10V: (T50-BO-4)

502-10VB: 325abbr=onNaNabbr=on at 3,000 output rpm, variant of -10V / T50-B0-4 with revised reduction gear ratio.^[3]

502-10VC: (T50-BO-8)

502-11:Compressed air generator.^[4]

502-11B:

502-12B:

502-W

502-14: (T50-BO-10)

550-1: (T50-BO-12)

Applications

T50 (Model 502)

• Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH
• Kaman K-225
• Kaman HTK-1
• Kaman K-1125
• XL-19B Bird Dog
• Radioplane RP-77D

GT502

• Stridsvagn 103

See also

• Rover 1S60

References

Bibliography

• Book: Taylor, John W.R. FRHistS. ARAeS. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962-63. 1962. Sampson, Low, Marston & Co Ltd. London.
• Book: Gunston, Bill . World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines, 5th Edition . 2006 . Sutton Publishing Limited . Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England, UK . 0-7509-4479-X . 79 .
• Book: Leyes II, Richard A. . William A. Fleming . The History of North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines . Smithsonian Institution . Washington, DC . 1999 . 1-56347-332-1 .

External links

• Boeing Model 502 Gas Turbine Engine
• "Jet Sheds Weigh" , September 1947, Popular Science article at bottom of page on earlier Model 500

Notes and References

1. Comparison of Helicopters Turboshaft Engines . . 2015-12-17 . Schenderlein . John . Clayton . Tyler . 2 . PDF . 2023-06-07 .
2. Web site: Kaman Helicopters . 2024-05-16 . www.airvectors.net.
3. Book: Taylor, John W.R. FRHistS. ARAeS. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962-63. 1962. Sampson, Low, Marston & Co Ltd. London.
4. Book: Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1955-56. 1955. Jane's all the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd.. London.
5. Book: Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1959–60 . Bridgman . Leonard . 1959 . Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd . London . 521–522.