Rolls-Royce Engines: Trent RB.50
Note: This is a sub-section of Rolls-Royce
WWII: To short circuit the development of a gas turbine to drive a propeller, Rolls-Royce decided to modify an existing jet engine. The first investigation was by use of a Welland engine, involving the first known BHP measurement of an aero-turbine. Further research included the modification of a Derwent II, rated at 2200 lb thrust. This engine was refashioned to take a reduction gear and was named the Trent. It was first tested in May, 1944, fitted with a reduction gear but no airscrew; in March, 1945, it was hangar-tested, complete with a five-bladed airscrew supplied by Rotol Ltd. The first flight of an aircraft with an aero-turbine driving a propeller was made in September, 1945, when the Rolls-Royce "Trent-Meteor" took off. The "Trent-Meteor" then had many hours of flight development and was publicly demonstrated at the International Air Rally, Derby, on June 21st 1947.[1].
Purpose-designed turbo-prop engines followed - the Clyde did not enter large scale production but the Dart was produced in many variants.