In 1951, the U.S. Air Force announced a requirement for a medium-size logistic and tactical transport aircraft, which resulted in the workhorse Lockheed C-130 Hercules. With support of the Air Force, Allison designed the T56 turboprop for the C-130, and first flight-tested the engine in 1954 in the nose of a Boeing B-17 testbed aircraft. The first production installation was on the Lockheed YC-130, which first flew on August 23, 1954.
The engine displayed here, a T56-A-1 first-generation (Series I) military model, powered the Lockheed C-130A and Convair YC-131C Samaritan. Its commercial equivalent, the 501-D13, powered airliners including the Lockheed Electra L-188, which entered commercial service with Eastern Airlines in January 1959. This highly successful turboprop has powered several other large military and commercial aircraft, such as the Lockheed P-3 Orion, Grumman C-2 Greyhound and E-2 Hawkeye, and Aerospace Lines Super Guppy aircraft.
Gift of Allison Division, General Motors Corporation
Date: 1954
Country of Origin: United States of America
Dimensions:
Length 368 cm (145.0 in.), Width 69 cm (27.0 in.), Height 91 cm (36.0 in.)
Physical Description:
Type: Turboprop
Power/Speed: 2796 kW (3,750 eshp) at 13,820 rpm
Compressor: 14-stage axial
Combustor: Cannular, 6 flame tubes
Turbine: 4-stage axial
Allison T56-A-1
In 1951, the U.S. Air Force announced a requirement for a medium-size logistic and tactical transport aircraft, which resulted in the workhorse Lockheed C-130 Hercules. With support of the Air Force, Allison designed the T56 turboprop for the C-130, and first flight-tested the engine in 1954 in the nose of a Boeing B-17 testbed aircraft. The first production installation was on the Lockheed YC-130, which first flew on August 23, 1954.
The engine displayed here, a T56-A-1 first-generation (Series I) military model, powered the Lockheed C-130A and Convair YC-131C Samaritan. Its commercial equivalent, the 501-D13, powered airliners including the Lockheed Electra L-188, which entered commercial service with Eastern Airlines in January 1959. This highly successful turboprop has powered several other large military and commercial aircraft, such as the Lockheed P-3 Orion, Grumman C-2 Greyhound and E-2 Hawkeye, and Aerospace Lines Super Guppy aircraft.
Gift of Allison Division, General Motors Corporation
Type: Turboprop
Power/Speed: 2796 kW (3,750 eshp) at 13,820 rpm
Compressor: 14-stage axial-flow
Combustor: Cannular, 6 flame tubes
Turbine: 4-stage axial-flow
Manufacturer: Allison, Indianapolis, IN
A19620071000
