Aircraft Engines of the World, 1955 (13th Edition), 1955, 1955-05

Document Type: Book (Technical Reference).

Purpose: Informational.

Authority: Author Expertise.

Series: Aircraft Engines of the World (13th Edition)

Scope: This "international reference book...referred to as the "bible" of the aircraft engine industry" was written and published in May 1955 by Paul H. (Howard) Wilkinson, "Member, Aviation Writers Association; Associate Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society; and Associate Fellow, [American] Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences and author of: Diesel Aircraft Engines, 1936; Aircraft Diesels, 1940; Diesel Aviation Engines, 1942 and Aircraft Engines of the World, 1941-1954." Mr. Wilkinson lived between 1895-1975.

Contents (from Preface): "AIRCRAFT ENGINES OF THE WORLD, 1955 edition, now goes into its thirteenth year to present the latest information about power-plants for piloted and pilotless aircraft. As the book is international in scope, much of the data are given in standardized page form with both English decimal and metric measurements. There are 66 new photographs in this volume. The contents are up to date as of May 1, 1955.

The Jet Engines and Gas Turbines section now occupies 148 pages. The Introduction gives a comprehensive review of the progress made by 33 manufacturers in 12 countries making these powerplants. Tabulations of 47 turbojets, 22 turbojets with afterburners, and 16 turboprops, are included for comparative purposes.

The standardized specification pages give complete details of 76 gas turbines, including 13 new ones--the Allison J33-A-37 and T56-A-1 (501); Curtiss- Wright J65-W-6 (afterburner); Pratt & Whitney J57-P-7 (afterburner); Solar Jupiter; Blackburn & General Palas and Turmo; Commonwealth Aircraft Avon; Marcel Dassault M.D.30R (afterburner); Napier Oryx; Rolls-Royce Soar; Sulzer Ghost; and Svenska Flygmotor Ghost (afterburner). Many of the other engine specifications have been rewritten to embody new construction and performance data.

The portion of the above section devoted to Specialized Powerplants contains important information and photographs of rocketjets (Aero-jet) for main propulsion and thrust augmentation; and gas turbines for auxiliary power (Solar), gas generation (Napier), and air compression (Continental). Some of these powerplants (Allison, Fairchild) are used in guided missiles and pilotless aircraft.

The Reciprocating Engines section occupies 111 pages. the introduction reviews the activities of 23 manufacturers in 10 countries, and includes a tabulation of 21 helicopter engines. The complete standardized specifications of 55 engines include 12 new ones--the Aircooled Franklin 6V6-300; Continental O-300, SO-470, FSO-470, and GSO-526; Lycoming 0-340 and VO-435; Alvis Leonides Major 1-2; Bristol Hercules 216 and 811, and Centaurus 373; and Japanese Kawasaki 240.

The Accessories and Equipment section contains individualized write-ups describing the activities and products of 21 leading manufacturers in the United States and Great Britain, with illustrations.

The Aircraft and Their Engines section contains 5 important tabulations, with a new one giving data of 39 guided missiles and pilotless aircraft, and their powerplants. The tabulations of military aircraft, commercial aircraft (airliners), and cargo aircraft, and their engines have been completely revised, and contain much new information.

The Aviation Fuels and Lubricants tabulations have been revised in accordance with the latest data available."