Aerospace Bristol is set to launch a permanent landmark display of 70 rare Rolls-Royce engines, made possible through a collaboration with the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust and supported by a generous £180,000 donation from Rolls-Royce plc, which will bring these iconic engines to a wider audience for the very first time.
The collection spans a century of innovation in aviation engineering, from early piston engines to the engines that played a key role in World War II and the Cold War, to modern jet turbines.
Many of the engines, including the Hercules, Pegasus and Olympus were originally designed and built by generations of engineers in Bristol and will now be on public display in their home city for the first time, celebrating Bristol’s central role in powering some of the world’s most legendary aircraft.
Prized engines in the collection include a rare Phoenix, which was the first and only diesel version of Pegasus ever built, a sectioned Centaurus which at over two metres long and 1,209 kilograms was one of the most powerful engines of WWII, and an example of an early Whittle engine, which marked the beginning of the jet age.
Sally Cordwell, CEO of Aerospace Bristol, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Rolls-Royce to display and preserve one of the most extraordinary collections of aircraft engines ever assembled.
“Aviation engineering is a proud part of Bristol’s identity, and each engine tells a powerful story of ingenuity, technological ambition, and of local people. For many visitors, the collection will hold personal memories of grandparents and great-grandparents who played an important role in designing these feats of engineering”.
Andy Roberts, Director of Flight Operations and CEO of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, said: “We’re delighted to see these engines find a home at Aerospace Bristol ,were they will continue to inspire future generations of engineers and innovators, This collection reflects the remarkable contributions of the people behind the engines – past and present – who have helped make Rolls-Royce a world leader in aerospace power and propulsion”.
The engines will be displayed in a historic aircraft hangar, recently refurbished to create a new museum store. Hangar 16R: Home of the Rolls-Royce Aerospace The collection opens on 1 August.
Volunteers from the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust will carefully restore the engines on site, giving visitors a rare opportunity to witness heritage preservation in action.
Visitors can enter Hangar 16R, see the engines from a viewing area, watch a short film that explains how engines work, and read about the engines and their history, free of charge. An in-depth, one-hour guided tour led by experts from Aerospace Bristol and Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust is available for £15 plus museum admission. Museum admission includes free return visits for 12 months.
Museum tickets and guided tours are available to book now at aerospacebristol.org.
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