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3. Engine – Rolls-Royce Dart RDa 3 Mk.506

Engine – Rolls-Royce Dart RDa 3 Mk.506

This is a famous and very successful turbo-prop engine, the design of which commenced in 1945. Test bed aircraft included the Lancaster (1947) and the Dakota (1949). Airline service began in 1953 with the Dart engined Viscount. Since then these engines have given many millions of hours service, being renowned for their long life and reliability.

During development, the power output more than doubled. The engine has two compressor stages and seven combustion chambers. Depending on the version, two or three turbine stages are fitted.

Well known aircraft using the Dart include Viscount, Argosy, Herald, Friendship, Andover and Convair 600.