Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust
Historical Series Reviews - Page 01
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The Merlin in Perspective Softbound, 208mm x 148mm x 11mm, 204 pages Recommended Retail Price: 100 photos/illustrations |
Reviewed by Kimble D. McCutcheon
Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Historical Series No. 2
Alec Harvey-Bailey was in charge of Merlin engine defect investigation during WWII. In addition to examination of damaged engines, his role also involved development of engineering improvements and repairs. Harvey-Bailey made numerous visits to active squadrons and even flew aircraft when it was necessary to become familiar with particular problems.
Between 1939 and 1945 the Merlin was used in 19 different types of operational service aircraft plus large families of Spitfires and Mosquitoes. There were Merlin variants with single-stage single-speed superchargers, single-stage two-speed superchargers, and two-stage two-speed superchargers with intercooling. Ratings ranged from 1,000 hp to over 2,000 hp, with specific weight improving from 1.4 to 0.8 lb/hp. More that 160,000 Merlins were built.
The Merlin, like any engine, was not without its problems. Much of the book deals with the Rolls-Royce response, which was direct and swift engineering action, remedial action on production or repair, or getting a grip on squadron maintenance and/or operational problems. Single-engine installations and the Lancaster were relatively trouble-free, but the close proximity of propellers to the wing leading edge of the Halifax and to the fuselage of the Mosquito led to vibration and reduction gear difficulties.
The Merlin in Perspective is filled with details concerning Merlin development as specific issues were addressed. Examples include backfires, bearing failures and propeller reduction gears. Seemingly insignificant design changes sometimes produced counterintuitive side effects. As a result it was Rolls-Royce policy to immediately address even the smallest details.
The book has numerous drawings of engine components. It also provides several appendices with pictures of engines and the aircraft they powered as well as tables specifications for the Merlin Mark numbers. It is a must for any fan of the Merlin.
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Olympus Softbound, 210mm x 148mm x 11mm, 185 pages Recommended Retail Price: 106 photographs/illustrations |
Reviewed by Kimble D. McCutcheon
Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Historical Series No. 15
This book grew from its author's attempt to record the highlights of a largely uneventful test flying career, where his association with the Olympus was a far more interesting story than the flying. The Olympus, Bristol's first turbojet, was designed to power bombers flying at more than 500 mph and 40,000 ft. During its 50-plus year life its thrust rating grew from 9,140 lbT to 38,000 lbT. The book was written to mark the 40th anniversary of the Olympus' first run. The second edition is expanded to cover the demise of Concorde supersonic airliner.
Bristol got off to a slow start in turbojets. In 1946 when the first layouts of what was to become Olympus were started, Bristol had no operating experience with pure jets. The Project Office was run by Charles Marchant, and a staff of two—Sam Robinson, a designer and Gordon Lewis, a young graduate engineer. A target thrust of about 9,000 lbT was needed to achieve the 500 mph and 40,000 ft goals and this would required a compressor pressure ratio of at least 9:1, which at the time was unheard of. Bristol Chief Engineer Frank Owner hoped to achieve this pressure ratio using a split-compressor design with a 10-stage axial compressor feeding a centrifugal second stage. Problems associated with the centrifugal stage ultimately resulted in two axial stages, each driven by a separate turbine. A cannular combustor, believed to have first been used on the Olympus, kept engine diameter under 40". At that time annular combustors were beyond the state of the art.
Dr. (later Sir) Stanley Hooker joined Bristol in January of 1949, and after he replaced Frank Owner as Chief Engineer about 18 months later, the Olympus program took off. The Olympus saw extensive service in the Vulcan bomber. Bristol gained supersonic experience by working on Olympus development for the TSR2, which positioned the company and its descendents (Bristol-Siddeley, Rolls-Royce) to produce the Olympus 593 for the Concorde. In addition to aviation applications, over 250 Olympus engines have been used in marine applications, and over 300 sold for industrial power generation.
The chapter covering Olympus 593 development for use in the Concorde is both awe-inspiring in terms of the airplane's capabilities and tragic in its documentation of the events that led to the Concords' withdrawal from airline service. However, despite the troubles that challenged Concorde, the Olympus engine displayed a nearly perfect service record in airline service.
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Rolls-Royce Piston Aero Engines Softbound, 210mm x 148mm x 10mm, 160 pages Recommended Retail Price: 127 photographs/illustrations |
Reviewed by Tom Fey, 23 Sep 2012
Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Historical Series No. 16
I first read this book around twenty years ago, and pleasantly revisited the reprint, with its new cover and minor ammendments, for this review. The author, highly acclaimed engineer Arthur A. Rubbra, started with Rolls-Royce in 1925, and contributed exhaustively to the design and troubleshooting of Rolls-Royce piston engines from 1935 to the late 1940s. He continued with the design of turboprop and turbojet engines through the late 1940s and 1950s, became the Technical Director for all forms of transportation for Rolls in 1954, directed the company’s nuclear efforts in the late 1950s, retired in 1968, and died in 1982 at the age of 79. This book focuses on the chronological and engineering progression of Rolls-Royce piston engines, starting with the Condor , through the Kestrel, Eagle, Goshawk, Peregrine, Buzzard, “R”, Merlin, Griffon, and finally the Eagle 22 and Crecy.
The book is heavily illustrated with rather standard pictures but outstanding line drawings, showing the workings of reduction gears, the assembly of cylinders, heads, liners, supercharger drive trains, spring drives, auxiliary drives, cooling and oil flows, etc. The narratives that complement the drawings take some study and concentration to fully understand, however, learning the challenges of proper design and the modifications required to successfully achieve the desired performance and mandatory reliability, all described by a man who lived the adventure, is priceless. Keeping one to three thousand reliable horsepower on line without leaking, boiling, burning, fracturing, fretting, wearing, twisting, or plucking is an intertwined medley of problems and solutions, and several of these are well described in the book.
Rubbra’s work covers a variety of engines spanning the V, X, and H configurations, and he recounts some of the unique challenges, failures, and successes, presented by each. Although there is mention of his leaders, associates, and peers, it is more of technical history than a study in personalities, management styles, or customer relations.
When this book is combined with the Historical Series #19 The Merlin 100 Series- the ultimate military development and #2 The Merlin in Perspective- the combat years, they become a unique triumvirate of knowledge for the student of Rolls-Royce piston engines not likely to be found anywhere else. All three books are highly recommended, but for my money, I’d start with Rolls Royce Piston Aero Engines – a designer remembers.
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