Armstrong Siddeley Python: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}

{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin

|name= Python

|image=Image File:ASPython.jpg

|caption= An Armstrong Siddeley Python during [[National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics|NACA]] wind tunnel testing in 1949

}}{{Infobox Aircraft Engine

|type=[[Gas turbine]] [[turbopropTurboprop]]

|national origin= United Kingdom

|manufacturer= [[Armstrong Siddeley]]

|designer=

|first run= April 1945

|introduced=

|retired=

|status=

|major applications= [[Westland Wyvern]]

|number built =

|program cost =

|unit cost =

|developed from = [[Armstrong Siddeley ASX]]

|developed into =

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|}

The '''Armstrong Siddeley Python''' wasis an early [[United Kingdom|British]] [[turboprop]] engine that was designed and built by the [[Armstrong Siddeley]] company in the mid-1940s. Its main use was in the [[Westland Wyvern]], a [[Aircraft carrier|carrier-based]]-based heavy fighter,. theThe turbopropprototypes enginehad replacingused the Wyvern prototype's original [[Rolls-Royce Eagle (1944)|Rolls-Royce Eagle]] piston engine, but Pythons were used in production aircraft. In this application, the Python was rated at 4,110 [[horsepower|EHPequivalent (Effectiveshaft Horsepower)horsepower]] (eshp).

==Design and development==

The design started as an experimental pure-turbojet known as the [[Armstrong Siddeley ASX|ASX]], which commenced testing in 1943. By this point other engine designs were already entering pre-production, and it seemed there was little need for the ASX in its existing form. The design was then modified into the turboprop layout withby the addition of a secondreduction [[turbine]]gearbox stage,to whichdrive wasa gearedpropeller. toThe theturboprop propellerthus andformed was named '''ASP''' at that stage.<ref>Gunston 19891998, p.1819.</ref>

===Flight testing===

Early flight-testing of the Python was carried out using the [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster B.1 (FE)]] ''[[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|TW911]]'' and the [[Avro Lincoln|Lincoln B.2]] ''RE339/G'',: in each aircraft havingPythons replaced the two outboard [[Rolls-Royce Merlin]]s replaced by Pythons.

Lincoln B.2 ''RF403'' also had two Pythons similarly installed and was used for high-altitude bombing trials at [[Woomera, South Australia]], the Pythons being used to increase the [[Flight ceiling|height]] from which tests could be carried out. These trials were principally of the ballistic casings for the [[Blue Danube (nuclear weapon)|Blue Danube]] [[Nuclear weapon|atomic weapon]],: therethe beingLincoln atwas the timeonly no other suitableavailable aircraft available that could accommodate the large weapon casing, measuring 62 inches diameter x {{convert|24 feet|ft|m}} in length,. andThe carryPythons itwere fitted to increase the [[Flight ceiling|height]] requiredfrom which tests could be carried out. Maximum release height and speed for the first eleven tests was 275 &nbsp;mph and {{convert|34',783 |ft|m|abbr=on}} with a bombing error of 61 &nbsp;ft.<ref>The National Archives, London, file ES 1/44 E4C Appendix 3 page 1.</ref>

==Python Engine on public display==

An Armstrong Siddeley Python is on display at the [[East Midlands Aeropark]] Castle Donington.

==Variants==

;ASP.1 (Python 1):reduction gear ratio 0.127:1

;ASP.2 (Python 2):reduction gear ratio 0.135:1

;ASP.3 (Python 3):

==Applications==

*[[Avro Lancaster]] - (test only)

*[[Avro Lincoln]] - (test only)

*[[Westland Wyvern]]

==Specifications (ASP.3)==

''Data from:''<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%200979.html Flight Global Archive - 1954] Retrieved: 3 November 2008</ref>

{{jetspecs

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|ref=''Data from:Flight''.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%200979.html Flight Global Archive - 1954] www.flightglobal.com. Retrieved: 3 November 2008</ref>

|type=[[Turboprop]]

|length=123.2 in (3129313 mmcm)

|diameter=54 in (1372137 mmcm)

|weight=3,450 lb (15651,565 kg)

|compressor=14Axial stageflow; 14 axialstages

|combustion=11 combustion chambers

|turbine=Two-stageAxial turbineflow; two stages

|fueltype=

|oilsystem=

|power=4,110 ehp[[eshp]] (3,065 kW), at sea level at 8,000 rpm, including 1,180 lbf (535 kgf[[Kilopond|kp]]) exhaust thrust

|thrust=

|compression=5.35:1

|aircon=52.5 lb/secs (23.8 kg/secs)

|turbinetemp=

|fuelcon=

|specfuelcon=0.805 lb/hr/(h eshp)

|power/weight=1.2:1

|thrust/weight=}}

==See also==

{{aircontent

<!-- other related articles that have not already linked: -->

|see also=

<!-- designs which were developed into or from this aircraft: -->

|related=

*[[Armstrong Siddeley ASX]]

<!-- aircraft that are of similar role, era, and capability as this design: -->

|similar aircraft=

<!-- relevant lists that this aircraft appears in: -->

|lists=

*[[List of aircraft engines]]

<!-- For aircraft engine articles. Engines that are of similar to this design: -->

|similar engines=

<!-- See [[WP:Air/PC]] for more explanation of these fields. -->

}}

==References==

===Notes===

{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===

{{refbegin}}

* {{cite book|last1=Gunston|first1=Bill|title=World encyclopaedia of aero engines : all major aircraft power plants, from the Wright brothers to the present day|date=1998|publisher=P. Stephens|___location=Sparkford, Nr Yeovil, Somerset, [England]|isbn=978-1852605971|edition=4th}}

* Gunston, Bill. ''World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines''. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9

* {{cite book |last=Gunston |first=Bill |title=World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines |year=1989 |publisher=Patrick Stephens Limited |___location=Cambridge, England |isbn=978-1-85260-163-8 |edition=2nd}}

* {{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1947 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co |___location=London|pages=4d–5d}}

{{refend}}

==External links==

{{commonscatCommons category|Armstrong Siddeley aircraft enginesPython}}

*[http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Braas/9314.htm Image of the Python-engined Lancaster B.Mk.I (FE) ''TW911'']

*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201399.html "Python"] a 1949 ''Flight'' article on the Python

{{ASaeroengines}}

{{Aviation lists}}

[[Category:Turboprop1940s turboprop engines]]

[[Category:Armstrong Siddeley aircraft engines|Python]]

[[Category:Axial-compressor gas turbine engines]]