Rolls Royce Dart
Click on image for larger version The Rolls-Royce Dart RDa 3 was one of the most successful early turboprop engines designed and built in Britain. Experimentation by Rolls Royce with a gas turbine engine driving a propellor commenced in 1943, and in 1947 led to the testing of a prototype engine, named Dart, installed in the nose of an Avro Lancaster aircraft. This dart engine was rated at 990shp,
This was followed by the RDa 1 rated at 1,250shp, then the RDa 3 rated at 1,400shp that was produced for the Vickers Viscount aircraft leading to the RDa 6 rated at 1,600shp. The RDa 7 series were rated at 1,800 to 2,100shp and finally the RDa 10 series rated from 2,555 to 3,245shp.
When Dart production ceased in 1987, 7,100 units had been built.
The Viscount's first flight was on July 16, 1948, and it became the first turboprop powered air line aircraft in the world when it first entered service in 1953.
The Dart turboprop engine was used in the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, Fokker F-27, Handley-Page Herald, Hawker Siddeley 748 and others, and used in converting DC-3 aircraft to turboprop power.
The sectioned Dart engine shown above is on display at the Museum.
TECHNICAL DATA RDa 6
Type Turboprop
Length 97.6in (2,480mm)
Diameter 37.9in (960mm)
Dry weight 1,297lbs (547kg)
Compressor two stage centrifugal
Combustors seven chambers
Power turbine three stage - axial
Maximum power 1,630shp @ 15,000rpm
Pressure ratio 5.62/1
Air mass flow 23.5lbs/sec (10.66kg/sec
Power to weight ratio1.35shp/lb
Type Turboprop
Length 97.6in (2,480mm)
Diameter 37.9in (960mm)
Dry weight 1,297lbs (547kg)
Compressor two stage centrifugal
Combustors seven chambers
Power turbine three stage - axial
Maximum power 1,630shp @ 15,000rpm
Pressure ratio 5.62/1
Air mass flow 23.5lbs/sec (10.66kg/sec
Power to weight ratio1.35shp/lb