Gazelle Engine Project

The first British-designed turboshaft engine to enter service, the 1600shp Gazelle was installed from the late 1950's in the Bristol Belvedere, built at Weston-super-Mare, and the early Westland Wessex helicopters, but was rapidly succeeded by lighter and smaller engines developed to provide similar power. One of these, the Rolls-Royce Gnome replaced the Gazelle in the Wessex, being small enough for two to be installed side by side in the same area as the previous power plant.

The Gazelle remained in service with the Belvedere until 1969 and with the Wessex Mk.3 until the mid 1980's.

The museum is extremely proud to now have on display the first of three Gazelle engines which provide the focus for a partnered project between us and the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust in nearby Filton, Bristol. Here are some images of it being unloaded when it was recently returned.

 

Napier Gazelle Engines

This week saw the departure of 3 Napier Gazelle engines from the museum which were taken by the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust (RRHT) to their workshop in Bristol. The engines are 3 of 8 engines which are being stripped down to retrieve the best components which will then form, hopefully, 4 good engines for exhibition.

It is intended that, once the project is complete, 2 of the engines will be installed in our Belvedere XG452 and a third engine will be an independent exhibit. The fourth, final, engine will be retained by RRHT as an exhibit.

The project is being worked on by volunteers at RRHT who are currently spending 2 days a week stripping down the engines they already have there. The 5 engines which were already at RRHT's workshop were bought by The Helicopter Museum from a private individual in Gloucester. Two of the engines were previously being used for tractor racing.