Rolls-Royce Avon Explained

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.^[1] Production of the Avon-derived industrial version continues to this day,^[2] Since 2015 produced by Siemens.^{[3] [4]}

The current version of the Avon, the Avon 200, is an industrial gas generator that is rated at . As of 2011, 1,200 Industrial Avons have been sold, and the type has established a 60,000,000 hour record for its class.^[5]

Design and development

The engine was initially a private venture put forward for the English Electric Canberra.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[7]

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.^[7] 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^[6] 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.^[1] The first application was the Vickers Valiant.

Operational history

The engine entered production in 1950 as the RA.3/Mk.101 with 6500lbf thrust in the English Electric Canberra B.2.^[1] Similar versions were used in the Canberra B.6, Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift. Uprated versions followed, the RA.7/Mk.114 with 7350lbf thrust in the de Havilland Comet C.2, the RA.14/Mk.201, 9500lbf in the Vickers Valiant and the RA.26, 10000lbf used in the Comet C.3 and Hawker Hunter F.6.^[8] 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 12690and^[9] 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 17110lbf 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^[10] were produced under licence in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale. 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.^[7]

Variants and designations

AJ65:The original designation, standing for Axial Jet 6,500 lbf thrust

RA.1:Prototype engines for testing and development.

RA.2:Pre-production engines for testing – 6000lbf^[11]

RA.3:Civil designation for the first Avon production mark. First avon with a two-stage turbine.^[11] – 6500lbf

RA.7:Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon RA.3. Electrically started.^[11] – 7350lbf

RA.7R:RA.7 with reheat. Meant for use with an afterburner. Explosive-cartridge started. – NaNkp without afterburner, NaNkp with afterburner.^[11]

RA.14:Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon with can-annular combustion chamber and Sapphire style compressor – 9500lbf

RA.14R:RA.14 with reheat. – 4300kp without afterburner, 5590kp with afterburner.

RA.19:

RA.19R:RA.19 with reheat. – 5669kp with afterburner.^[12]

RA.21:Production engine developed from the RA.7 – 8050lbf

RA.21R:Production engine developed from the RA.7R. Same as the Avon Mk.21.^[11] – 3460kp without afterburner, 4394kp with afterburner.

RA.23R:RA.23 with reheat. – 4535kp without afterburner, 5895order=flipNaNorder=flip with afterburner.

RA.24:

RA.24R:Same as the Avon Mk.47A.^[11]

RA.25:Civil Mk.503

RA.26:Further improvements to the Avon 200 series – Civil Mk.521

RA.28:Second generation variant – 10000lbf

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 – 12725lbf^[13]

RB.146:Rolls-Royce designation for Avon Series 300^[13]

Avon Series 100

Avon Series 100 are early military versions of the Avon.

Avon Mk.100:Military designation for the RA.3 Avon – 6500lbf

Avon Mk.101C:3000kp

Avon Mk.113:

Avon Mk.114:Military designation for the RA.7 Avon – 7350lbf

Avon Mk.115:Same as the Avon Mk.23 – 3630kp^[11]

Avon Mk.117:

Avon Mk.118:

Avon Mk.20:Australian version built on license by CAC for the CAC Sabre Mk.31 – 7500lbf^[14]

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. – 3460kp without afterburner, NaNkp with different afterburners.^[15]

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. – 3460kp without afterburner, NaNkp with different afterburners.^[15]

Avon Mk.23:Same as the Avon Mk.115.^[11] Non-afterburning Swedish version built by RR for the Hawker Hunter Mk.50. Designated RM5B1.^[15] – 3519kp^[16]

Avon Mk.24:Non-afterburning Swedish version built by RR for the Hawker Hunter Mk.50. Designated RM5B2.^[15]

Avon Mk.25:Non-afterburning Swedish version built by RR for the Hawker Hunter Mk.50. Designated RM5B3.^[15]

Avon Mk.26:Australian version built by CAC for the CAC Sabre Mk.32 – 7500lbf^[14]

Avon Series 200

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

Avon Mk.200: – 9500lbf

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. – 4880kp without afterburner, 6500kp with afterburner.^[15]

Avon Mk.48A:Afterburning Swedish version built by RR and on license by SFA for the Saab 35A/B/C. Designated RM6B. – 4890kp without afterburner, 6535kp with afterburner.^[15]

Avon Series 300

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

Avon Mk.300: – 12690lbf

Avon Mk.301:The ultimate Military Avon for the English Electric Lightning – 12690lbf dry, 17110lbf wet.^[9]

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. – 5765kp without afterburner, 7800kp with afterburner.^[15]

Westinghouse XJ54:Avon 300-series scaled-down by Westinghouse to 105 lb/sec airflow to produce 6,200 lb thrust.^[17]

Avon Series 500

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 – 12725lbf^[13]

Avon Mk.533R:12600lbf

Avon Mk.533R-11A:

Swedish designations

Reaktionsmotor 3A – RM3A:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.101C^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 5A1 – RM5A1:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.21^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 5A2 – RM5A2:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.21A^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 5B1 – RM5B1:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.23^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 5B2 – RM5B2:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.24^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 5B3 – RM5B3:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.25^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 6A – RM6A:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.47A^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 6B – RM6B:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.48A^[15]

Reaktionsmotor 6C – RM6C:Swedish designation for the Avon Mk.60^[15]

Applications

Military aviation

• CAC CA-23 (cancelled)
• CAC Sabre
• de Havilland Sea Vixen
• English Electric Canberra
• English Electric Lightning
• Fairey Delta 2
• Hawker Hunter
• Ryan X-13 Vertijet
• Saab 32 Lansen
• Saab 35 Draken
  • • Supermarine Swift Supermarine Scimitar Vickers Valiant

Civil aviation

• de Havilland Comet
• Lockheed L-193 (cancelled)
• Sud Aviation Caravelle

Other uses

• 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.
• As a compact electrical generator, the type EAS1 Avon based generator can generate a continuous output of 14.9 MW.
• 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 1019.46km/h at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.

Surviving engines

• Several Avon-powered Hawker Hunter aircraft remain airworthy in private ownership in 2010.^[18]
• Thunder City in South Africa as of 2011 operated two Avon-powered English Electric Lightnings.^[19]
• SWAHF operates three Saab Lansen and two Saab Draken airworthy for air shows.

Engines on display

• A Rolls-Royce Avon Mk 1 is on display at Amrita University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in the Department of Aerospace Engineering's Lab.
• A Mk 524 Avon has been restored at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina by the Museum Friend's Association in Moron, Argentina and is now on display.
• An Avon Mk.203 was donated by Rolls-Royce to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in July 1986 for public display.^[20]
• A Rolls-Royce Avon is on public display at the Midland Air Museum.^[21]
• A preserved Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.203 is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London.^[22]
• A partially sectioned Mk.101 Avon is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.^[23]
• A Rolls-Royce Avon is on display at the Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia
• A Rolls-Royce Avon is on public display at East Midlands Aeropark
• A Rolls-Royce Avon is on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton.
• Several RR Avon engines are on display at the Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra, Australia
• A Rolls-Royce Avon engine is on public display at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society museum at Illawarra Regional Airport, New South Wales, Australia.
• A Rolls-Royce Avon engine is on public display at the Parkes Aviation Museum in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia.
• A Rolls-Royce Avon is on display at the Classic Flyers Aircraft Museum, Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
• A Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.26 is on display at Mikes Dyno Tuning and Performance Engines, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia
• A Rolls-Royce Avon (GAF) is on display at the South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
• A Rolls-Royce Avon is on public display in the car park (under cover) at South Lanarkshire College, East Kilbride as an exhibit about Nae Pasaran.
• A Rolls-Royce Avon MK 101 is on display at the entrance foyer of Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya which was gifted by Professor Selvadurai Mahalingam
• A partially sectioned Avon is on public display at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum in Horsham St Faith, Norfolk.^[24]
• A Rolls-Royce Avon engine is on public display in The Charlesworth Transport Gallery, at Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield.

References

Bibliography

• Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989.
  • Book: Kay, Anthony L.. Turbojet History and Development 1930–1960 . The Crowood Press. Ramsbury. 2007. 1st. 1. 978-1-86126-912-6.

External links

• The fascinating story of the Rolls Royce Avon turbojet engine, the first Rolls Royce axial flow turbojet
• National Museum of USAF – Avon MK 203 Turbojet
• "Rolls-Royce Avon" a 1955 Flight article on the Avon
• "Rolls-Royce Avon 200 Series" a 1957 Flight article

Notes and References

1. Gunston 1989, p. 149.
2. Web site: Rolls-Royce Avon 200 industrial gas turbine upgrade hits 100,000 hours . 2023-10-13 . www.rolls-royce.com . en.
3. Web site: Siemens Energy . 2015 . NOTICE TO SUPPLIERS. Subject: Rebranding Components from RR to Siemens .
4. Web site: Rolls-Royce sells gas turbine business to Siemens - NS Energy . 2023-10-13 . en-US.
5. Web site: Avon 200 . Rolls-Royce . 2013-05-15 . 2013-06-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130516032216/http://www.rolls-royce.com/energy/energy_products/gas_turbines/avon_200/ . 16 May 2013 . dmy-all .
6. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-01-24 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160129184610/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%201777.html . 29 January 2016 . dmy-all .
7. "Rolls-Royce Aero Engines" Gunston, Bill, Patrick Stephens Limited 1989,, p.131,132,133
8. Force V: The history of Britain's airborne deterrent, by Andrew Brookes. Jane's Publishing Co Ltd; First Edition 1 Jan. 1982,, p.31.
9. "World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines – 5th edition" by Bill Gunston, Sutton Publishing, 2006, p.195
10. Web site: hispano suiza | canadian pratt | flight international | 1962 | 1011 | Flight Archive . Flightglobal.com . 1962-06-28 . 2013-06-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104035349/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%201011.html . 4 November 2012 . dmy-all .
11. Book: Stridsberg, Sven. Lansen. Allt om hobby AB. 1992. 27–32.
12. Book: Stridsberg, Sven. Lansen. Allt om hobby AB. 1992. 105–106.
13. Web site: Archived copy . www.flightglobal.com . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121114163635/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%200042.html . 14 November 2012 . dead.
14. Book: Roux, Élodie. Turbofan and turbojet engines : database handbook. Blagnac : Élodie Roux. 2007. 92.
15. Book: Kontakt 86, Flygmotorer. Kontaktgruppen för flyghistorisk forskning. 1988. 25, 26, 27.
16. Web site: Flygmotor RM 5B (Rolls-Royce Avon Mk 23 (S)), tillverkad 1956, för flygplan J 34. Monterat foto med tillhörande information.
17. "World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines – 5th edition" by Bill Gunston, Sutton Publishing, 2006
18. http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype=hunter G-INFO
19. http://www.thundercity.com/pages/499409045/our-jets/eel.asp Thunder City – Aircraft
20. https://web.archive.org/web/20130404155601/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=882 USAF Museum
21. http://www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk/aircraft.php Midland Air Museum – Aircraft
22. http://navigator.rafmuseum.org/results.do?view=detail&db=object&pageSize=1&id=36901 RAF Museum – Rolls-Royce Avon
23. http://navigator.rafmuseum.org/results.do?view=detail&db=object&pageSize=1&id=21801 RAF Museum – Rolls-Royce Avon
24. Web site: Engines List . City of Norwich Aviation Museum . 27 August 2023.