Rolls-Royce Pegasus

The Rolls- Royce Pegasus (the name comes from Greek mythology ) is a turbofan engine, which originally comes from Bristol and is now manufactured by Rolls- Royce PLC.

This unique drive is used in all versions of the multi-role combat aircraft Hawker Siddeley Harrier. Rolls -Royce licensed Pratt & Whitney of manufacturing the Pegasus for the U.S. version. The Pratt & Whitney F402 - version is called, although it is also indicated in these " RR " as the manufacturer code. The Pegasus was also used as a planned drive for a number of aircraft projects such as the German Dornier Do 31.

Construction

The Pegasus is a two -spool turbofan engine with thrust vector control. It has a three-stage low-pressure and an eight-stage high-pressure compressor, which are each driven by two-stage low-pressure and high-pressure turbines. What is unusual about the engine is that high-pressure and low-pressure shafts rotate in opposite directions to reduce gyroscopic effects at low speed. The drive has a simple thrust vector control with four swivel nozzles either provide the thrust for the lift, as well as for the drive to the front, so that a STOVL flight is possible. The two front nozzles are operated with air from the low pressure system, the rear with a hot ( 650 ° C) jet exhaust. Of crucial importance was the simultaneous movement of all four swiveling nozzles.

The Pegasus was also the first engine, which used a fan before the actual compressor, which ( for example, a reduction in the risk of icing ) brought some positive effects.

To date, more than 1,200 engines of this type have been produced together with nearly two million operating hours run time. You are in the Harrier of the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and naval forces from India, Italy, Spain and Thailand in use.

History

The Bristol Engine Company began work on BE.53 Pegasus in 1958. The engine was built in collaboration with the Hawker Siddeley Harrier prototype ( the Hawker P.1127, which had its maiden flight in 1960 ). It originated from the Bristol Orpheus under the supervision of Stanley Hooker. The low-pressure unit came from the Bristol Olympus Drive. Production and development of the Pegasus was continued after the purchase of Bristol by Rolls -Royce in 1966 by this company. A related engine design came at the Bristol Siddeley BS100 is used, which for the planned - was provided VTOL supersonic combat aircraft ( Hawker Siddeley P.1154 ) - but not developed to an end.

Variants

Pegasus 2

BE53 - also known as 3, for P.1127

Pegasus 5

Also BS.53 -5 ( Bristol- Siddely 53-3 ) for HS Kestrel aircraft.

Pegasus 10

For the first Harrier, 20,500 lbf thrust, in use from 1971.

Pegasus 11

The Pegasus 11 is used in the first generation Harrier, Hawker Siddeley Harrier the RAF GR.3, the USMC AV -8A and later the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier. The Pegasus 11 produced 93.4 kN thrust and came from 1974 are used.

Pegasus 11-21/Mk.105/Mk.106/F402-RR-406A

The 11-21 version with 2 kN more thrust was developed for the second - generation Harrier, the USMC AV -8B Harrier II and the RAF. The 11-21 Mk.105 used in the RAF Harrier produce 96 kN, the Mk.106 for the Sea Harrier FA.2 97 kN thrust.

Pegasus 11-61/Mk.107/F402-RR-408

The 11-61 version is the latest with 106 kN thrust, the most powerful version of Pegasus. This represents up to 15 percent more thrust at high ambient temperatures, the new Harrier allows the return to an aircraft carrier without the shedding of unused weapons. This means together with the reduced maintenance costs greatly reduced total cost of the drive.

This latest Pegasus version was introduced in the further improvement in the AV-8B Harrier II . This combines the proven benefits of day - and night - STOVL operations with an also new advanced radar. Replacement of MK.105 - by Mk.107 engines made ​​by the RAF in the process of modernization of GR7 Harrier fleet to GR9 standard. These aircraft are called GR7As and GR9As.