Rolls-Royce Gnome
| Gnome | |
|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce Gnome at the Imperial War Museum Duxford | |
| Type | Turboshaft |
| Manufacturer | de Havilland Engine Company Bristol Siddeley Rolls-Royce |
| First run | 5 June 1959 |
| Major applications | Westland Sea King Westland Wessex Westland Whirlwind |
| Developed from | General Electric T58 |
The Rolls-Royce Gnome is a British turboshaft engine originally developed by the de Havilland Engine Company as a licence-built General Electric T58, an American mid-1950s design. The Gnome came to Rolls-Royce after their takeover of Bristol Siddeley in 1966, Bristol having absorbed de Havilland Engines Limited in 1961.
A licence to manufacture the T58 was purchased in 1958. The T58 had begun bench testing in 1955 and by 1958 had already been used in helicopters and de Havilland were able to test their first engines in a Westland Whirlwind and Wasp helicopters in August 1959 and March 1960 respectively.
A free-turbine turboshaft, it was used in helicopters such as the Westland Sea King and Westland Whirlwind. The design was sub-licensed to Alfa-Romeo.
There were two series produced: the "H" turboshaft for helicopter use, and the "P" turboprop for fixed-wing aircraft.