Peter Calder Explained

Peter Henry Calder OBE FREng (25 February 1926[1] - 31 August 2013) was a British mechanical engineer; he was head of the development of the engine programme for Concorde.

Early life

He was born in Switzerland.[2] He attended Imperial College London.

Career

De Havilland Engines

He worked for the de Havilland Engine Company,[3] working at their Gas Dynamics Laboratory in Hertfordshire.

Rolls-Royce

Bristol-Siddeley had been formed on 1 February 1959, when Bristol Aero-Engines Ltd merged. On 1 April 1962, Bristol Siddeley took the assets of De Havilland Engine Company Ltd. Rolls-Royce in the 1950s or early 1960s had not, by contrast, similarly acquired smaller companies.

In the late 1970s he was Project Director for the Rolls-Royce RB.2211-22B.[4]

Concorde

By 1965 he was assistant chief engineer of the Olympus 593 project,[5] later becoming chief engineer.[6] He was technical director of Rolls-Royce at Filton (Bristol Siddeley until 1968), when the engines (Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 twin-spool turbojet) for the BAC Concorde were being developed.[7] Brian Calvert was Concorde's flight manager, with whom he worked closely.

Personal life

He was awarded the OBE in the 1976 New Year Honours.[8] He married Mary, who died on 29 December 2015. He lived in Portishead, North Somerset. He died 31 August 2013 after a long illness aged 87.

Notes and References

  1. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/5SfEU4-0xydV-8uWuUwnIR3C6Mw/appointments Companies House
  2. Web site: Tributes to decorated engineer. Fowler. Tracey. 12 September 2013. North Somerset Times. en. 20 February 2019.
  3. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1954/1954%20-%202904.PDF Flight International 22 October 1954
  4. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1980/1980%20-%200664.PDF Flight International, 1 March 1980
  5. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1965/1965%20-%202667.PDF Flight International 3 June 1965
  6. Times, 27 May 1971, page VI
  7. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1976/1976%20-%202486.PDF Flight International 30 October 1976
  8. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46777/supplement/10/data.pdf 1976 OBE