General Electric T58
| T58 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| T58s installed on a U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky HH-3F | |
| Type | Turboshaft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | GE Aviation |
| First run | 1955 |
| Major applications | CH-46 Sea Knight SH-2 Seasprite SH-3 Sea King |
| Variants | Rolls-Royce Gnome, |
The General Electric T58 is an American turboshaft engine developed for helicopter use. First run in 1955, it remained in production until 1984, by which time some 6,300 units had been built. On July 1, 1959, it became the first turbine engine to gain FAA certification for civil helicopter use. The engine was license-built and further developed by de Havilland in the UK as the Gnome, and also manufactured by Alfa Romeo and the IHI Corporation.
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[edit] Design and development
Development commenced with a 1953 US Navy requirement for a helicopter turboshaft to weigh under 400 lb (180 kg) while delivering 800 hp (600 kW). The engine General Electric eventually built weighed only 250 lb (110 kg) and delivered 1,050 hp (780 kW) and was soon ordered into production. First flight was on a modified Sikorsky HSS-1 in 1957, and civil certification for the CT58-100 variant was obtained two years later.[1]
The main production version of the engine was the T58-GE-10, developing 1,400 hp (1,044 kW). The most powerful version, the T58-GE-16, produces 1,870 hp (1,390 kW).[2]
[edit] Applications
- Aerospatiale SA 321K Super Frelon - Used by Israeli Air Force
- Agusta A.101
- AgustaBell AB204B
- Bell UH-1F/TH-1F
- Bell X-22 (YT58)
- Boeing Vertol BV-107-II
- Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight
- Fairchild VZ-5 (YT58)
- Kaman SH-2 Seasprite
- Piasecki XH-21D Shawnee (Model 71)
- Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
- Sikrsky HH-3B/C/E/F
- Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard
- Sikorsky S-61L/N
- Sikorsky S-62
- Sikorsky S-67
- Sikorsky S-72
[edit] Other Applications
Two T58s, converted to turbojets by the removal of the power turbines, were used as the engines on the Maverick TwinJet 1200.[3]
The Carroll Shelby turbine cars entered in the 1968 Indianapolis 500 race were powered by T58s.[4] The cars were found to be using variable inlets to get around the USAC regulations on the maximum allowable inlet size and were disqualified.
A T58 has also been used to power a custom-built boat.[5]
[edit] Specifications (T58)
Data from [6]
General characteristics
- Type: Turboshaft
- Length: 55"
- Diameter: 20.2"
- Dry weight: 305 lbs
Components
- Compressor: 10 axial
- Turbine: 1 HPT, 2LPT
Performance
- Maximum power output: 1200-1400 hp
- Overall pressure ratio: 8.2
- Specific fuel consumption: 0.6 lbs per hour per hp
- Thrust-to-weight ratio: 3.9-4.6 HP/lb
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ Flying Magazine: 52. March 1960.
- ^ [1]
- ^ MiniJets Website Retrieved 28 June 2011
- ^ 'Rodger Ward's Indy 500 Preview; Will the Turbines Takeover?'
- ^ Turbine Boat Retrieved 28 June 2011
- ^ "About the General Electric T58 (series) Turbine Engine". http://www.turbinefun.com/T58-GE-3.asp.
- Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. pp. 65.
- GE Aviation T58 page and T58 history page
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