Turbomeca Astazou
| Company type | Turboprop and turboshaft engine family |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace engineering |
| Founded | 1957 |
Key people | G. Sporer (chief engineer) |
| Products | Turboprop and turboshaft engines (Astazou series) |
The Turbomeca Astazou represents a prominent family of turboprop and turboshaft engines, initially tested in 1957. The original model delivered at 40,000 rpm while weighing . Following a rigorous 150-hour evaluation, it entered operational use in aviation in May 1961. G. Sporer served as the chief engineer for this project. The engine’s name is derived from two peaks located in the Pyrenees.
Agusta manufactured a streamlined variant known as the Turbomeca-Agusta TA.230.
Design and development
The Astazou IIA, an evolution of the initial design, was tailored specifically for helicopter applications. By the year 1993, production had reached 2,200 units, and manufacturing persisted at least until 2007. Numerous aircraft originally fitted with this engine have since transitioned to more powerful replacements.
The early single-shaft Astazou incorporates a two-stage compressor configuration—starting with an axial stage followed by a centrifugal stage—paired with an annular combustion chamber that supplies hot gases to a three-stage axial turbine. Positioned ahead of the air intake, a reduction gearbox adjusts the output speed to suit propeller or rotor requirements. Fuel delivery is automatically regulated to sustain a consistent rotor or propeller speed despite variations in blade pitch.
Starting with the Astazou X model, an additional axial compressor stage was introduced; this variant powered the Potez 840. Rolls-Royce Turboméca International Ltd marketed the Astazou XIV and XVI models under the designations AZ14 and AZ16 respectively.
Power output rose progressively: for example, the twin Astazou XVIII engines on the Eurocopter Dauphin each generated 783 kW. The Astazou XX incorporated a third axial compressor stage to enhance compression ratios, producing up to in turboprop configurations. The XXB version, utilized on the single-engine Aérospatiale SA 361H Dauphin, achieved .
Variants
- Astazou I
- Astazou II
- Compressor arrangement includes one axial stage followed by one centrifugal stage; features an annular combustor and a three-stage turbine
- Astazou IIA
- Astazou III
- Astazou IIIA
- Astazou IIIC
- Astazou IIIC2
- Astazou IIIN
- Astazou IIIN2
- Astazou VI
- Coupled twin Astazou engines
- Astazou X
- Introduced second axial compressor stage
- Astazou XII
- Astazou XIV
- Equipped with two axial compressor stages plus one centrifugal stage, annular combustor, three-stage turbine, and front-mounted integral reduction gearbox
- Astazou XIVA
- Astazou XIVB
- Astazou XIVD
- Astazou XIVC
- Astazou XIVH
- Astazou XIVM
- Astazou XVI
- Astazou XVIG
- Astazou XVIII
- Astazou XVIIIA
- Astazou XX
- Added third axial compressor stage to increase pressure ratio
- Astazou XXB
- Turbomeca-Agusta TA.230
- Simplified variant produced by Agusta
- Rolls-Royce Turbomeca AZ14
- Marketing name for Astazou XIV by Rolls-Royce Turboméca International Ltd
- Rolls-Royce Turbomeca AZ16
- Marketing name for Astazou XVI by Rolls-Royce Turboméca International Ltd
Fixed-wing aircraft
- Dassault Communauté
- Dassault MD320 Hirondelle powered by 2x Astazou XIV equivalents.
- Dornier Do27T-l equipped with 2x Astazou II equivalents.
- FMA IA 58 Pucará utilizing 2x Astazou XVIG equivalents.
- Handley Page HP.137 Jetstream fitted with 2x Astazou XIVC equivalents.
- Mitsubishi MU-2
- Nord Noralpha
- Pilatus PC-6/A1-H2 Turbo Porter driven by a single Astazou XII equivalent.
- Potez 840 powered by four 440shp (328 kW) Turboméca Astazou II engines.
- Potez 842 employing four 600shp (447 kW) Turboméca Astazou XII units.
- SFERMA Nord 1110
- SFERMA SF-60 Marquis using 2x Astazou X engines.
- SFERMA PD-146 Marquis equipped with 2x Astazou IIA powerplants.
- Short SC.7 Skyvan series II incorporating 2x Astazou XII equivalents.
- SIPA S-2510 Antilope
- IAI Arava powered by 2x Astazou XIV equivalents.
- UV-23A Dominion Skytrader fitted with 2x Turboméca Astazou XIV engines.
Helicopters
- Aérospatiale SA.3180 Alouette II Astazou featuring a single Astazou IIA engine (performance limited by rotor transmission).
- Aérospatiale SA.319B Alouette III with one Astazou XIVB engine.
- Aérospatiale Gazelle powered by a single Astazou IIIN equivalent.
- Aérospatiale Gazelle AH.1 equipped with one Astazou IIIN2 engine.
- Agusta A.105
- Agusta A.106
- Agusta A.115
- Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin
- Dechaux Helicop-Jet utilizing one Astazou II engine.
Specifications (Astazou XVI)
See also
Further reading
- Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Patrick Stephens, 1986, p.164.