Orion | |
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Bristol Orion on display at the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, Derby | |
Type | Turboprop |
Manufacturer | Bristol Siddeley |
First run | 1956 |
Major applications | Bristol Britannia |
The Bristol Orion aero engine is a two-shaft turboprop intended for use in later marks of the Bristol Britannia and the Canadair CL-44. Although the engine was built and underwent a development program, the BE.25 Orion project was cancelled in 1958 by the British Ministry of Supply in favour of the Rolls-Royce Tyne.[1] In addition, interest in turboprop-powered aircraft was beginning to wane, because of the successful introduction of the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 jetliners into airline service.[2]
The Orion gas generator had been chosen by French aircraft designer Wibault to power a vectored thrust aircraft[3] which ultimately became the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 but with a Bristol Siddeley Orpheus gas generator which had a compressor derived from the Orion low pressure compressor.[1]