Talk:Rolls-Royce Avon

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AJ.65[edit]

The article notes "Originally known as the AJ.65 for Axial Jet, 6,500 lbf which was designed by Alan Arnold Griffith". This statement seems unclear to me. It could be read that AA Griffith designed the axial-flow design, which is at least arguably true. But it could also be read that it means that AA Griffith actually designed the AJ.65, which I find somewhat more difficult to believe. Would the author of this statement clarify, and perhaps cite? Maury 00:53, 5 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

A. A. Griffith joined Rolls-Royce in 1939 and was eventually Chief Scientist to the company. It was a technical memorandum by him that led to the design of the AJ65/Avon. [1] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.24.208.47 (talk) 09:46, 6 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Griffith designed the AJ.65 (before it received the "Avon" name) at Derby but it was left to Hooker's team at Barnoldswick to make it into a usable engine, which as-designed, it wasn't. This is what led to Hives and Hooker falling out, as Hooker thought he was being blamed for the Avon's problems, which were none of his making. In addition, Hives had promised Hooker that he would be RR's Chief Engineer and Hooker felt he was getting older and could see no sign of that happening. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.149.173.74 (talk) 11:13, 25 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Industrial uses[edit]

A June 2014 Rolls Royce newsletter covered the 50th anniversey of the Avon as a industrial engine. Transcanada Pipelines has the world's largest fleet of stationary Avons (84 of them), and the Avon that ran continously for 476 days was in the Middle East.

http://www.rolls-royce.com/magazine/rolls141.html - Article is "Canada's Natural Powerhouse" — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.166.186.1 (talk) 14:38, 28 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

canular != can-annular?[edit]

The article says: "Early Marks had 8 canular combustion chambers where as later Marks had can-annular." but I thought canular == can-annular. I guess the former might be just "can" type. Or? --marsian 13:24, 25 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Variants section[edit]

Needs a variants section if anyone has the reference sources. Nimbus (Cumulus nimbus floats by) 16:14, 27 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Starter[edit]

I've read that Canberras fitted with this engine were started with a cartridge, and also read on Coffman_engine_starter about Avons starting with a cartridge. Can someone who knows add a definitive bit about this to the article? Sangwine (talk) 20:43, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

A very good suggestion, I don't have specific references for the Avon system but the expanding cartridge gases acted on a small, geared, turbine wheel, spinning up to 60,000 rpm. I worked on the Avons fitted to the Lightning which had Isopropyl nitrate-fuelled starter motors, a similar idea but using a liquid monofuel. They were prone to explosions and fires, three attempts to start were allowed, igniting four shots of unburnt fuel all at once was not recommended!! Nimbus (Cumulus nimbus floats by) 22:03, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The early Avons were started by a Rotax electric starter but the Avon RA.3 had a cartridge starter developed by BTH and Rolls-Royce. Later Avons from the RA.7 onward used a triple-breech starter with three cartridges that could be used in-sequence. The latter required a longer nose 'bullet' fairing. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.7.147.13 (talk) 17:31, 18 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Possibly some more information here in Aircraft engine starting, not very well linked so far, non specific to engine type, I'm sure I have a photo of the Avon Coffman starter cartridge chambers. Nimbus (Cumulus nimbus floats by) 23:52, 28 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Early British jet engines were electric-started but as loads increased the electrical requirements became too great, and so cartridge starting became preferred.

Interestingly, when Whittle was building his Power Jets WU he used the engine from an Austin 7 car to start the jet, until it was realised that the Austin engine's starter motor could do the task just as well. From then on he used a simple electric starter to start his engines. Later - for the reasons mentioned above - electric starting became impracticable for the more powerful jet engines as they required too much horsepower just to turn over. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.148.220.15 (talk) 12:46, 10 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

BTW, the Lightning's two Avons were started by AVPIN as this gave simultaneous, near-instantaneous engine starting for both engines for fast scrambles. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.149.53.172 (talk) 10:30, 21 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

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