Rover 1S Series Gas Turbine
The Rover 1S60 gas turbine engine is probably the classic British stationary engine. No other unit has
found as many applications, it is a unique power plant which attempted to take the place of reciprocating engines.

The Rover like many other small engines began life in the 1950s when turbines were seen as a viable alternative to piston engines. Rover developed gas turbines for automotive use and also the cold war fuelled development of small stationary units.

Several thousand engines were built and a number of different units evolved all based around the same
rotating assembly.

The Rover gas turbine can be found in applications ranging from auxiliary power on board aircraft, ships and hover craft. It was also used for providing ground
power, it was used as a fire fighting water pump and also as an educational test bed engine for colleges and universities. A version of the engine was also tested as a turbo-prop engine and was fitted to a Dehaviland "Chip Munk" aircraft. A modified twin shaft version spawned the early prototype gas turbine car the Rover T3.
The Rover 1S60 is a characturful engine and quite straight forward
to operate. A number of surplus units can be found from time to
time in the UK, a number of units crop up abroad as well, particularly in Universities.

The 1S60 fire pump engine was used aboard ships on deck and
consequently tended to suffer from salt corrosion. Instructions were supplied with the engine to ensure they were protected after use but these were not always followed.

The engine is still supported today to some degree by Lucas Aerospace who hold the manufacturing rights.

Matt Smith Rover BRM and Firepump Owner

 

Rover 1S60 Rotor Assembly
Rover 1S60 Specification
Output......................................................................60 Bhp
RPM.........................................................................46,000
Compressor..............................................................Centrifugal Impeller
Combustion Chamber................................................Reverse Flow Single Can with Simplex Burner Nozzle
Turbine......................................................................Axial Flow
Layout......................................................................Single Spool with Reduction Gear
Ignition......................................................................High Energy Ignitor Plug with Air/Fuel Emmulsion Pump
Starting.....................................................................Electric, Hand Crank or Cartridge
Lubrication...............................................................Wet Sump with Pressure Pump, Air or Water Cooled Oil Cooler
Fuel System..............................................................Piston Pump with Centrifugal Governor and Temperature Limiter

Rover 1S Series Gas Turbine: Applications

Rover 1S60.............................Lucas Aerospace Lightweight Ground Power Unit
Rover 1S60.............................Fire Pump with hand starting.
Rover 1S60.............................Instructional Gas Turbine sold by Gilkes
Rover 1S60.............................APU Argosy Aircraft
Rover 1S82.............................Vulcan B2 APU (AAPP MK10301)
Rover 1S90............................."Brave Class" Fighting Ships auxiliary gen set.
Rover 1S90.............................Hovercraft APU
Rover TP90.............................Dehaviland Chipmunk Aircraft Propulsion Engine
Rover 1S60 Fitted to Lucas Lightweight Ground Power Unit
Rover Airborne Auxiliary Power Plant (Vulcan B2)
Rover 1S60 Water Pump (MK1)

 

Rover 1S60 with Pump Removed (MK2)

 

Rover 1S60 Instructional Engine

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