GT6Boy
I really should change my personal text
- Joined
- 3 November 2017
- Messages
- 55
- Reaction score
- 185
My late father worked in Raoul Hafner’s Team as part of the Bristol Aeroplane Company Helicopter Design Office. The Bristol 173/191/192 etc. are mentioned in a number of threads here but nothing linking these aircraft to Bristol’s ‘paper engine’, the Janus turbo prop.
I was made aware of this engine, in conversation some 6 or 7 years ago with Reg Austin, who worked very closely under Raoul Hafner throughout this time and indeed until after Westland took over the Bristol Helicopter interests.
IIRC Reg was of the opinion the Janus project(such as it was), was a victim of the Superpriority production initiative, resultant to the Korean War.
It would be fair to say Reg was disappointed with the historical narrative usually applied to the Bristol Helicopters.
Whilst the 173 mk1 & 2 performance did suffer with the (relatively) low power available from the reciprocating Leonides engine, he was not surprised as the Bristol 173 was intended to be a recipient of the Bristol Janus, which with its relatively lightweight and high power output, would have made the 173 a more successful endeavour.
My question here is: can anyone here shed any further detail on the potential matching of this engine to the Bristol 173?
The only mention on this site for the Janus is here:
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/early-british-gas-turbine-development.1016/page-5#post-157138
Reg did contribute to the email updates on this thread here:
http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/bristol_belvedere.php
I have copies of the very excellent Blue Envoy Helicopter books and am avidly awaiting publication of The General Staff and the Helicopter in due course. Perhaps research for these books might have dug up further detail on this which may not have been thought relevant to their final publication?
I was made aware of this engine, in conversation some 6 or 7 years ago with Reg Austin, who worked very closely under Raoul Hafner throughout this time and indeed until after Westland took over the Bristol Helicopter interests.
IIRC Reg was of the opinion the Janus project(such as it was), was a victim of the Superpriority production initiative, resultant to the Korean War.
It would be fair to say Reg was disappointed with the historical narrative usually applied to the Bristol Helicopters.
Whilst the 173 mk1 & 2 performance did suffer with the (relatively) low power available from the reciprocating Leonides engine, he was not surprised as the Bristol 173 was intended to be a recipient of the Bristol Janus, which with its relatively lightweight and high power output, would have made the 173 a more successful endeavour.
My question here is: can anyone here shed any further detail on the potential matching of this engine to the Bristol 173?
The only mention on this site for the Janus is here:
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/early-british-gas-turbine-development.1016/page-5#post-157138
Reg did contribute to the email updates on this thread here:
http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/bristol_belvedere.php
I have copies of the very excellent Blue Envoy Helicopter books and am avidly awaiting publication of The General Staff and the Helicopter in due course. Perhaps research for these books might have dug up further detail on this which may not have been thought relevant to their final publication?