1950s British aircraft turboshaft engine
The Napier Gazelle is a turboshaft helicopter engine that was manufactured by D. Napier & Son in the mid-1950s. In 1961 production was nominally transferred to a joint venture with Rolls-Royce called Napier Aero Engines Limited.[ 1] But the venture closed two years later.[ 2]
Variants
NGa.1
Emergency rating 1,260 shp (940 kW) at 20,400 rpm, 1 hour rating 1,100 shp (820 kW) at 19,800 rpm, Max continuous rating 920 shp (690 kW) at 19,000 rpm[ 3]
NGa.2
Emergency rating 1,650 shp (1,230 kW) at 20,400 rpm[ 3]
NGa.2(R)
[ 4]
NGa.2 series 2
NGa.3
Emergency rating 1,800 shp (1,300 kW) at 20,400 rpm[ 3]
NGa.4
Emergency rating 2,000 shp (1,500 kW) at 20,400 rpm[ 3]
NGa.13(R)
[ 4]
NGa.13 series 2
NGa.18
NGa.22
Mk.101
[ 4]
Mk.161
[ 4]
Mk.162
(NGa.13 series 2)[ 4]
Mk.165
[ 4]
Gazelle 501
[ 4]
Gazelle 503
[ 4]
Gazelle 512
[ 4]
Gazelle 514
[ 4]
Gazelle E.219
[ 4]
Applications
These helicopter engines were used on the Westland Wessex HAS 1 and HAS 3 (other versions of the Wessex had two Rolls-Royce Gnome engines) and the Bristol Belvedere (later Westland Belvedere) transport helicopter .
Engines on display
A preserved Napier Gazelle is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London .
A preserved Napier Gazelle from a Westland Wessex helicopter is on display at the Queensland Air Museum , Caloundra, Australia.
A Napier Gazelle is on display at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum , Doncaster
A further Napier Gazelle is displayed at the Solent Sky Museum , Southampton
Specifications (Gazelle 501 / Mk.101 / NGa.2(R))
Left view, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Australia
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962-63 and Flightglobal archive. [ 4] [ 5]
General characteristics
Type: Turboshaft
Length: 70 in (1,778 mm)
Diameter: 33.5 in (851 mm)
Dry weight: 830 lb (376.5 kg)
Components
Compressor: 11-stage axial flow
Combustors : 6 flame tubes
Turbine : 2-stage gas generator power turbine + 1-stage free power turbine
Fuel type: Aviation kerosene
Oil system: Pressure spray / splash with gear pump and dry sump
See also
Comparable engines
Related lists
References
Notes
^ "ENGLISH ELECTRIC-ROLLS ROYCE Napier Aero Engines Ltd." Times [London, England] 1 June 1961: 24. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 30 Aug. 2016.
^ Napier Aero Engines Ltd (closure) Hansard, 8 March 1963 vol 673 cc921-32
^ a b c d Wilkinson, Paul H. (1957). Aircraft engines of the World 1957 (15th ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. pp. 154–155.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Taylor, John W.R. FRHistS. ARAeS (1962). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962-63 . London: Sampson, Low, Marston & Co Ltd.
^ Flightglobal online archive
Bibliography
Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines . Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9
Taylor, John W.R. FRHistS. ARAeS (1962). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962-63 . London: Sampson, Low, Marston & Co Ltd.
External links
Piston engines Turboprop / Turboshaft Turbo-compound Gas-generator Rocket