Testbed Collection

Rolls Royce / Snecma Olympus 593 Mk602 standard engine
Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 Mk602 production standard engine ready to leave the assembly shop for testbed running at the Rolls-Royce Bristol Engine Division

Avro Vulcan B1 XA903
Avro Vulcan B1, XA903, used as an engine testbed for the Turbo Union RB199 for the Panavia Tornado

Bristol Type 188
Engineers Working on the Bristol Type 188 Supersonic Experimental Test-Bed Aircraft Parked at Filton, UK Preparing for Test on the de Havilland Gyron Junior Jet-Engine Date: 1960s

Gloster Meteor F4 RA490
Gloster Meteor F4, RA490, following use as a Beryl engine testbed, the aircraft was heavily modified to take two Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets for trials with a jet deflection system

Avro Lincoln RF403 testbed
Avro Lincoln, RF403, testbed for the Armstrong Siddeley Python turboprop. This aircraft was scrapped in Australia in 1958 following high altitude bombing trials at Woomera. Date: 1958

Avro Vulcan B1 XA894
Avro Vulcan B1, XA894, used as an engine testbed for the Bristol Siddeley Olympus 320 for the TSR-2

R101 engine car on a testbed

Avro Vulcan B1 XA894 Farnborough
The flying testbed for the Bristol Siddeley Olympus 22R turbojet engine destined for use in TSR2. Aircraft destroyed by fire on 3rd December 1962 during ground engine testing. Date: 1962

Boeing JB-52E Stratofortress, 56-0636, used as a flying ?
Boeing JB-52E Stratofortress, 56-0636, used as a flying testbed for the Pratt & Whitney JT9D turbofan for the Boeing 747

Rolls Royce RB39 Clyde axial turboprop on the testbed
Rolls-Royce RB39 Clyde axial turboprop on the testbed at Gyll Brow. circa 1947. Date: 1947

Vickers Valiant B1 WP199
Vickers Valiant B1, WP199, was used as a testbed for the Pegasus engine

Avro Vulcan XA903 Farnborough
First public appearance of the then unnamed stand-off bomb. Eventually called Blue Steel it became the standard British air carried nuclear weapon

The sole Gloster Goring, J8674, fitted with a Bristol Pe?
The sole Gloster Goring, J8674, fitted with a Bristol Pegasus radial while being used as an engine testbed by Bristol at Filton

Nord 2508 Noratlas, F-BFRG, was used as an engine testbed

Fairey Battle testbed for the Bristol Hercules radial, N?
Fairey Battle testbed for the Bristol Hercules radial, N2042

Fairey Battle testbed for the Rolls-Royce Exe

Fairey Battle testbed for the Bristol Taurus radial, K9331

Bristol Jupiter VIII installation on Bristol Bloodhound, G-EBGG, testbed

Handley Page HP67 Hastings TE583 used as a testbed
Handley Page HP67 Hastings, TE583, used as a testbed for the Saphire turbojet

A pair of Rolls Royce / Snecma Olympus 593 turbojets
A pair of Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbojets being prepared for testbed running at the Centre dEssais des Propulseurs at Saclay, near Paris. Looking forward through the Type 28 nozzles

Convair NB-36H flying testbed for an airborne nuclear reactor

Handley Page HP137 Jestream G-AWVK
Handley Page HP137 Jestream, G-AWVK, was used by Decca as a testbed and demonstrator for navigation aids

Vickers VC10 G-AXLR used a testbed
Vickers VC10, G-AXLR, was used a testbed for the Rolls-Royce RB211. This flew for the first time on 6 March 1970. Date: 1970

Vickers Viscount 757 C-FTID-X used as a testbed
Vickers Viscount 757, C-FTID-X, used as a testbed for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-50 turboprop used in the de Havilland Canada Dash 7. June 1974. Date: 1974

Bristol Bulldog II J9591 in use as a Mercury testbed
Bristol Bulldog II, J9591, in use as a Mercury testbed, is fitted with a Mercury IVA with a special exhaust ring and cylinder helmets

Martin PTV-N-2 (Gorgon IV) ramjet engine testbed after launch from a Black Widow fighter off Point Magu, California, Naval Air Test Center

Avro Vulcan Conway-powered engine testbed
Rolls-Royce taking delivery at Hucknall of the Avro Vulcan Conway-powered engine testbed

Rolls-Royce Viper 600 turbojet fitted to the Rolls-Royce flying testbed HS125 Series 1, G-ARYC. 1970. G-ARYC was the third 125 built and the first production aircraft. Date: 1970

North American Sabre F4 XB982 of the RAF
North American Sabre F4, XB982, of the RAF which was used as a testbed for the Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 801 turbojet

Gloster Meteor F4 RA435
Gloster Meteor F4, RA435, was used by Rolls-Royce as a testbed for two reheated Derwent V turbojets

Gloster Meteor F4 RA449
Gloster Meteor F4, RA449, is towed past an Avro Lincoln engine testbed

The Boeing EB-17G 44-85813
The Boeing EB-17G, 44-85813, was a testbed for the Wright T35 Typhoon. It was later redesignated JB-17G

Fairey Battle testbed for the Bristol Taurus radial K9331
Fairey Battle testbed for the Bristol Taurus radial, K9331, head-on view

Avro Lincoln SX972 testbed
Avro Lincoln, SX972, testbed for the Bristol Proteus turboprop, overflying the Bristol Brabazon at the 1951 Farnborough Air Show. Date: 1951

Lanchester flying testbed used to develop engines for the Gloster Meteor, from 1943 Date: 1943

Electromagnetic formation flight testbed (EMFF). Researcher examines the EMFF testbed. This machine is designed to test alternative forms of propulsion for future formation-flying space satellites

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"Exploring the Boundaries of Innovation: Unveiling the Testbed Legacy" Embarking on a journey through aviation history, we delve into the world of testbeds - where groundbreaking technologies were put to the ultimate trial. From Rolls Royce and Snecma Olympus 593 Mk602 standard engine experiments to Avro Vulcan B1 XA903's audacious endeavors, these testbeds pushed boundaries like never before. One such marvel was witnessed in the iconic Avro Vulcan B1 XA894, soaring high above Farnborough skies. With its Bristol Type 188 counterpart by its side, these magnificent machines paved the way for future advancements. The Gloster Meteor F4 RA490 also played a vital role in this pursuit of excellence. But it wasn't just aircraft that took center stage; even engines found their moment under scrutiny. The Avro Lincoln RF403 testbed showcased its prowess as it tested R101 engines with precision and finesse. And who could forget witnessing an engine car mounted on a testbed? It was truly a sight to behold. As we rewind back to Farnborough once again, our attention is captivated by two more legends - Avro Vulcan B1 XA894 and Avro Vulcan XA903. These mighty beasts roared across the sky, leaving spectators awe-inspired at their sheer power and grace. The Bristol Type 188 made multiple appearances throughout this captivating journey – each time reminding us of its significance as an experimental platform for cutting-edge technologies. In retrospect, these testbeds served as catalysts for innovation – pushing boundaries beyond imagination while ensuring safety remained paramount. Their legacy lives on today through countless technological breakthroughs that have shaped modern aviation. So let us celebrate these pioneers who fearlessly embarked upon uncharted territories – forever etching their names in history books as they propelled humanity towards new horizons with every daring experiment conducted within those revered testbed walls.