Rolls-Royce Avon

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 British Overseas Airways Corporation (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. Production of the Avon-derived industrial version continues to this day, by Siemens since 2015.

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.

Design and development

The engine was initially a private venture put forward for the English Electric Canberra. 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. 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. 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 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 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 were produced under licence in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale Division Moteurs .

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.

;RA.3:Civil designation for the first Avon production mark. First avon with a two-stage turbine.

;RA.21:Production engine developed from the RA.7 –

;RA.21R:Production engine developed from the RA.7R. Same as the Avon Mk.21.

;RB.146:Rolls-Royce designation for Avon Series 300

;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. – without afterburner, with different afterburners.

;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. – without afterburner, with different afterburners.

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

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 –

Thunder City in South Africa as of 2011 operated two Avon-powered English Electric Lightnings.
SWAHF operates three Saab Lansen and two Saab Draken airworthy for air shows.

S&S Turbines in CYXJ(Fort St John BC) has at least 5 Avons in storage for rebuild. https://www.ssturbine.com/photo-gallery

Engines on display

thumb|Rolls-Royce Avon engine at the Temora aviation museum, Australia

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.
A Rolls-Royce Avon is on public display at the Midland Air Museum.
A preserved Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.203 is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
A partially sectioned Mk.101 Avon is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.
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.
A Rolls-Royce Avon engine is on public display in The Charlesworth Transport Gallery, at Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield.

Specifications (Avon 301R)

References

Notes

Bibliography

Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989.

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