Rolls-Royce RB401 explained

The Rolls-Royce RB.401 was a British two-spool business jet engine which Rolls-Royce started to develop in the mid-1970s as a replacement for the Viper.[1] [2] RB.401-06 prototype engines were already being manufactured when a decision to develop the higher thrust RB.401-07 was taken.

Although ground testing of both the -06 and -07 continued into the early 1980s, a lack of funds caused the project to be cancelled.

Design and development

Although the basic configuration of both engines was almost identical, the -07 variant had a larger fan diameter. The -06 version HP compressor was based on the eight-stage version of the RC34B research compressor, unscaled, whereas the -07 was a scaled-up unit. A single stage fan, driven by a two-stage LP turbine, supercharged the HP compressor which was driven by the single stage transonic HP turbine. The combustor was annular and the co-annular exhaust featured a lightweight target type thrust reverser.

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Gunston 1989, p.155.
  2. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%202715.html Flight, 1979. www.flightglobal.com