Document Type: Book (Technical Reference). Purpose: Informational. Authority: Author Expertise. Series: Aircraft Engines of the World (14th Edition)

Scope: This "international reference book...referred to as the "bible" of the aircraft engine industry" was written and published in May 1956 by Paul H. (Howard) Wilkinson, "Member, Aviation Writers Association; Associate Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society; and Associate Fellow, [American] Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences and author of: Diesel Aircraft Engines, 1936; Aircraft Diesels, 1940; Diesel Aviation Engines, 1942 and Aircraft Engines of the World, 1941-1955." Mr. Wilkinson lived between 1895-1975.

Contents (from Preface): "AIRCRAFT ENGINES OF THE WORLD, 1956 edition, contains an unusually large number of new jet engines and gas turbines. Many of them are powerplants which were exhibited at the Paris Aero Show or at Farnborough in England, or new ones shown recently for the first time in the United States. Altogether, there are more than 30 new engines in this volume, and more than 80 new photographs.

The Jet Engines and Gas Turbines section now occupies 169 page, more than half of the book. The Introduction gives a résumé of the activities of the manufacturers. Completely revised tabulations present 53 turbojets, 22 turbojets with afterburners, and 17 turboprops. The standardized specification pages which have been a basic feature of this section for the past ten years, give complete details and illustrations of 76 gas turbines for main propulsion. They include 23 new ones such as the Allison J71-A.2; Ford J57-F-13; Bristol Olympus 102, Orpheus, and B.E.25; De Havilland Gyron; Napier Eland 3 and 4, and Gazelle; Rolls-Royce Conway, Dart RDa. 7, and Tyne; Orenda I1 and 14; Hispano-Suiza R-800; Marcel Dassault M.D.30; S.N.E.C.M.A. ATAR 101-E and 101-G, ATAR 8, and Vesta; Turboméca Gabizo; Fiat 4002; and Svenska Avon RM5A. Specifications of the Allison T56 (501-D13), Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 7, Rolls-Royce Dart, and other engines have been rewritten to conform with the latest information available. Data are given of the new Westinghouse J54, and the new MIK-209 produced in the U.S.S.R.

The portion of this section devoted to Specialized Powerplants has been expanded to 20 pages. It contains the latest data about Allison, Continental, Fairchild, General Electric, Lycoming, Reaction Motors, Solar, Blackburn & General, Napier, Rolls-Royce, and Turboméca shaft power turbines, air compressors, and other types of powerplants.

The Reciprocating Engines section has been reduced to 85 pages, but there are still 55 complete standardized engine specifications due to the use of unit pages with photographs for many of them. The Introduction reviews the latest activities of the manufacturers, and includes a revised tabulation of 21 helicopter engines. There are 7 new engines the Continental 0-470-K, the Lycoming GSO.480-C1B6, the De Havilland Gipsy Major 200, the Canadian Pratt & Whitney Cyclone 9 R-1820, and the Piaggio O-435-A, GO-435-C2, and GO-480.BIB.

The Accessories and Equipment section has been brought right up to date, and describes and illustrates many of the latest products of the United States and Great Britain.

The Aircraft and Their Engines section contains 7 important tabulations of military aircraft, commercial aircraft, and cargo-trans-ports, and their engines. The Introduction covers the latest airliners."