Document Type: Book (Technical Reference). Purpose: Informational. Authority: Author Expertise. Series: Aircraft Engines of the World (17th Edition)

Scope: This "international reference book...referred to as the "bible" of the aircraft engine industry" was written and published in June 1959 by Paul H. (Howard) Wilkinson, "Member, Aviation Writers Association; Member, International Society of Aviation Writers; 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, 1941-1958." Mr. Wilkinson lived between 1895-1975.

Contents (from Preface): "AIRCRAFT ENGINES OF THE WORLD, 1959/60 edition, is the 17th annual volume of this international reference book which gives the latest information about powerplants for manned aircraft. It has been completely revised and includes specifications of 231 engines, of which 38 are new. There are 210 specially selected photographs, of which 69 are new. English decimal and metric systems are used for the convenience of readers all over the World.

The Gas Turbine Engines section, comprising main aircraft power-plants, contains descriptions of 120 engines, of which 18 are new. All of the latest powerplants for the new jet airliners are here, including turbofan and by-pass engines. Powerplants for supersonic military aircraft, and for helicopters, have been brought up to date. Tabulations of 97 of the latest turbojets and turboprops are included for comparative purposes. The Introduction of this section reviews the activities of 34 engine manufacturers in 12 countries.

The Specialized Gas Turbines section comprising 22 descriptions and photographs of the latest turboshaft and turbo-compressor units for helicopters and auxiliary purposes, contains 6 new engines. Rocketjets for thrust augmentation of manned aircraft occupy 5 pages, with descriptions and photographs of 1l of the latest ones.

Nuclear Aircraft Engines have been brought up to date with photographs of aircraft engines which have been run on nuclear fuel.

The Reciprocating Engines section now contains 69 unit page descriptions of the latest powerplants for fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Of these engines, 7 are new and there are many additional models of existing ones. The Introduction reviews recent activities of 24 engine manufacturers in 12 countries. There is an up-to-date tabulation of helicopter engines.

The Accessories, Equipment and Materials section includes particulars of many of the latest aviation products from various countries.

The Fuels and Lubricating Oils tabulations have been revised to include particulars of a new high temperature synthetic lubricating oil for supersonic Mach 2 to 3 jet engines.

The Aircraft and Their Engines section has been increased by the addition of a tabulation of 48 helicopters and their powerplants. In this section, 314 of the latest military and commercial aircraft and their engines are listed for comparative purposes. They include all of the new jet airliners now in service and those which soon will be flying all over the World.

A page has now been added on which are listed earlier engines, from 1953 to 1958, which have been omitted from this and preceding volumes for lack of space."