Rolls-Royce Pegasus
| Pegasus / F402 | |
|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce Pegasus on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London | |
| Type | Turbofan |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce |
| First run | September 1959 |
| Major applications | Hawker Siddeley Harrier BAE Sea Harrier McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II |
| Number built | Over 1,200 (through 2008) |
| Developed from | Bristol Siddeley Orpheus |
The Rolls-Royce Pegasus is a British turbofan engine originally designed by Bristol Siddeley. It was manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. The engine is not only able to power a jet aircraft forward, but also to direct thrust downwards via swivelling nozzles. Lightly loaded aircraft equipped with this engine can manoeuvre like a helicopter. In particular, they can perform vertical takeoffs and landings. In US service, the engine is designated F402.
Originally the Bristol Siddeley Pegasus, the engine powers all versions of the Harrier family of multi-role military aircraft. Rolls-Royce licensed Pratt & Whitney to build the Pegasus for US built versions. However Pratt & Whitney never completed any engines, with all new build being manufactured by Rolls-Royce in Bristol, England. The Pegasus was also the planned engine for a number of aircraft projects, among which were the prototypes of the German Dornier Do 31 VSTOL military transport project.