Coventry Gets Ready to Celebrate Rolls-Royce Landmark

    LONDON, Aug. 22 Coventry's key role in the development of
the jet engine will be celebrated next month with the 50th anniversary of the
entry into production of the Viper engine, which is believed to be a world
record for a gas turbine engine still in production.
    The Viper is one of the earliest examples of the gas turbine engine, whose
development was pioneered by Coventry-born Sir Frank Whittle.  Thousands of
Vipers were produced by Armstrong Siddeley (later to become Rolls-Royce) at
the former Parkside factory.
    A special day at Coventry Airport, Baginton, on 15 September will see the
're-union' of several types of Viper-powered aircraft.  The event is being
organised by Rolls-Royce, which took over the Armstrong Siddeley facilities at
Parkside and Ansty in the 1960s.  The Coventry branch of the Rolls-Royce
Heritage Trust is also helping with the celebration.
    Tom Smith, Trust branch secretary, said: "We have had to limit tickets to
current and former employees, and to customers, who we hope will come from as
far afield as New Zealand, Australia, India and Brazil.
    "While it's not a public open day, we are planning fun activities for
youngsters, such as bouncy castle, bungee run and quad bikes.  Adults can take
a fond look back at aircraft such as the Strikemaster, Jet Provost and HS125
that are due to fly in, and which were just a few of the aircraft the Viper
has powered over half a century."
    Other highlights will include a Heritage Trust exhibition, entry to the
Midland Air Museum located on the airfield, pleasure flights, and an aerial
display from Rolls-Royce's own Spitfire, powered by the Griffon engine.
    A range of Viper-powered aircraft will be on static display, including an
example of its initial application -- the Jindivik target drone, which is
still in service -- and the latest, the Italian MB339.  A Viper-powered car is
expected to make high-speed demonstration runs.
    For those Rolls-Royce and former Armstrong Siddeley employees interested
in attending the event, a limited number of tickets -- available on a
first-come first-served basis -- are obtainable from Helen Stacey of
Rolls-Royce (call her on +44-117-979-7411 for details, or write to her at
PO Box 3, Bristol BS34 7QE).

    Note:  Armstrong Siddeley designed and developed the Viper engine soon
after the Second World War.  By 1951 it was being tested and certified for use
-- initially in the Anglo-Australian Jindivik target drone that had an
expected service life of just a few hours.  Since then more than 5,000 Viper
engines have accumulated well over 12 million hours, powering dozens of
different aircraft types.  Its power output has increased two and a half times
and its life by 500 times.