Rolls-Royce RB.50 Trent

For the modern turbofan engine, see Rolls-Royce Trent.

The Rolls-Royce RB.50 Trent was the first Rolls-Royce turboprop engine.^[1]

RB.50 Trent
A Rolls-Royce Trent turboprop on display at the Science Museum (London)
Type	Turboprop
Manufacturer	Rolls-Royce Limited
First run	June 1944
Major applications	Gloster Meteor F.1 (Trent variant)
Developed from	Rolls-Royce Derwent
Developed into	Rolls-Royce Clyde

Design and development

The Trent was based on an invention by Sir Frank Whittle. It was a Derwent Mark II turbojet engine with a cropped impeller (turbine unchanged)^[2] and a reduction gearbox (designed by A A Rubbra) connected to a five-bladed Rotol propeller. The Trent ran for 633 hours on test before being installed in a Gloster Meteor jet fighter which flew for the first time on 20 September 1945 at the start of a 298-hour flight test programme.^[3]

Applications

• Gloster Meteor

Engines on display

A preserved Rolls-Royce Trent turboprop engine is on display at the London Science Museum.

A preserved RB50 Trent is displayed at the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust in Derby.

Specifications

The sole Trent Meteor EE227

General characteristics

• Type: Turboprop
• Length:
• Diameter:
• Dry weight: 1,000 lb turbine unit, reduction gear 250lb, propeller 250 lb, total engine/propeller weight 1,500 lb^[4]

Components

• Compressor: 1-stage double-sided centrifugal compressor
• Combustors: 10 x can combustion chambers
• Turbine: Single-stage axial
• Fuel type: Kerosene
• Oil system: pressure feed, dry sump with scavenge, cooling and filtration

Performance

• Maximum power output: 750 shp, with 1,250 lb (570 kg) residual thrust

See also

• Jendrassik Cs-1, first turboprop engine

Related development

• Rolls-Royce Derwent
• Rolls-Royce Clyde

Comparable engines

• General Electric T31

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines