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{{Short description|Company in aviation components}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Dowty Rotol
| name = Dowty Propellers
| logo = Dowty logo.gif
| logo = File:Dowty, a GE Aerospace company.png
| logo_size = 300px
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Aerospace]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1937}} as Rotol Airscrews
| industry = [[Aerospace]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1937}} as Rotol Airscrews
| founders = [[Rolls-Royce Limited]]<br>[[Bristol Aeroplane Company]]
| founders = [[Rolls-Royce Limited]]<br>[[Bristol Aeroplane Company]]
| location =
| location =
| location_city = [[Staverton, Gloucestershire]]
| location_city = [[Brockworth, Gloucestershire]]
| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
| area_served =
| area_served =
| key_people =
| key_people =
| products =
| products =
| owner =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees =
| parent = [[GE Aviation]]
| parent = [[GE Aerospace]]
| website = {{URL|dowty.com}}
| website = {{URL|dowty.com}}
}}
}}


'''Dowty Rotol''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] engineering company based in [[Staverton, Gloucestershire]] and specialised in the manufacture of [[propeller (aircraft)|propeller]]s and propeller components. Following a series of changes of ownership, the original Dowty Rotol facility at Staverton is now owned by the [[Safran]] Group, operating as part of its [[Messier-Bugatti-Dowty]] Landing Gear subsidiary. Propeller design and manufacture was moved a few hundred metres down the road when the company was split into business units under its Dowty ownership in the early 1990s. 16 January 2007, '''Dowty Propellers''' became part of [[GE Aviation Systems]] through [[General Electric|GE]] buying [[Smiths Group]]’s aerospace division.<ref>
'''Dowty Propellers''' is a British engineering company based in [[Brockworth, Gloucestershire]] that specialises in the manufacture, repair and overhaul of [[Propeller (aeronautics)|propellers]] and propeller components for customers around the world. It is owned by [[GE Aerospace]].
{{
cite web|
title=agreeing to dispose of its aerospace division to the giant US conglomerate General Electric for £2.45bn ;<br>from google (ge buy smith group aerospace) result 5|
url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/business/worldbusiness/16electric.html
}}
</ref><ref>
{{
cite web|
title=2007 – Dowty Propellers becomes part of GE through the company’s acquisition of Smiths Group’s aerospace division ;<br>from google (ge buy dowty rotol) result 1|
url=http://dowty.com/about-us/milestones/
}}
</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[Image:Hercules.propeller.details.jpg|right|thumb|One of four 6-bladed Dowty Rotol R391 composite controllable- and reversible-pitch propellers on the [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|C-130J Super Hercules]].]]
[[Image:Hercules.propeller.details.jpg|right|thumb|One of four 6-bladed Dowty Rotol R391 composite controllable- and reversible-pitch propellers on the [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules]] ]]

The company was formed as '''Rotol Airscrews''' in 1937 by [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] and [[Bristol Aeroplane Company|Bristol Engines]] to take over both companies' propeller development,<ref name=history>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/GlosProp.htm Gloucester Transport History]</ref> the market being too small to support more than one company. The name is a contraction of "ROlls-Royce" and "BrisTOL".<ref name=history/> Rotol's propellers were always considered leading edge, its models equipping the [[Hawker Hurricane]], [[Supermarine Spitfire]], and many other [[World War II|Second World War]]-era aircraft.<ref name=history/> By the end of the war it had introduced the first five-bladed propeller to see widespread use, used on late-model Spitfires. In 1943 the company changed its name from Rotol Airscrews Limited to '''Rotol Limited''', and in 1952 it acquired British Messier Limited, a specialist in landing gear and hydraulics.
The company was formed as '''Rotol Airscrews''' in 1937 by [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] and [[Bristol Aeroplane Company|Bristol Engines]] to take over both companies' propeller development,<ref name=history>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/GlosProp.htm Gloucester Transport History]</ref> the market being too small to support more than one company. The name is a contraction of "Rolls-Royce" and "Bristol".<ref name=history/> Rotol's propellers were always considered leading edge, its models equipping the [[Hawker Hurricane]], [[Supermarine Spitfire]], and many other [[World War II|Second World War]]-era aircraft.<ref name=history/> By the end of the war it had introduced the first five-bladed propeller to see widespread use, used on late-model Spitfires. In 1943 the company changed its name from Rotol Airscrews Limited to '''Rotol Limited''', and in 1952 it acquired British Messier Limited, a specialist in landing gear and hydraulics.


In 1958, Bristol Aeroplane and Rolls-Royce agreed to sell Rotol and British Messier to the [[Dowty Group]].<ref name="Times54338" /> By 1959 Rotol and British Messier along with Dowty Equipment and Dowty Fuel Systems became part of the new Dowty Aviation Division based at Cheltenham.
In 1958, Bristol Aeroplane and Rolls-Royce agreed to sell Rotol and British Messier to the [[Dowty Group]].<ref name="Times54338" /> By 1959 Rotol and British Messier along with Dowty Equipment and Dowty Fuel Systems became part of the new Dowty Aviation Division based at Cheltenham.
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In 1968, the company introduced the first [[fibreglass]] propellers, which went on to see widespread use.<ref name=history/> Since then it has migrated to [[carbon fibre]], and remains a leader in propeller design.
In 1968, the company introduced the first [[fibreglass]] propellers, which went on to see widespread use.<ref name=history/> Since then it has migrated to [[carbon fibre]], and remains a leader in propeller design.


Following a series of changes of ownership, the original Dowty Rotol facility at Staverton is now owned by the [[Safran]] Group, operating as part of its [[Messier-Bugatti-Dowty]] landing gear subsidiary (now known as Safran Landing Systems). Propeller design and manufacture was moved a few hundred metres down the road when the company was split into business units under its Dowty ownership in the early 1990s. On 16 January 2007, '''Dowty Propellers''' became part of [[GE Aviation Systems]] through [[General Electric|GE]] buying [[Smiths Group]]’s aerospace division.<ref>{{cite web|title=agreeing to dispose of its aerospace division to the giant US conglomerate General Electric for £2.45bn ;<br>from google (ge buy smith group aerospace) result 5|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/business/worldbusiness/16electric.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2007 – Dowty Propellers becomes part of GE through the company’s acquisition of Smiths Group’s aerospace division ;<br>from google (ge buy dowty rotol) result 1|url=http://dowty.com/about-us/milestones/}}</ref>
⚫
On 5 February 2015, a fire at Dowty's Staverton facility caused severe damage to 80% of the factory building, destroying the main production line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-31144128 |title=Dowty fire: Gloucestershire factory 'severely damaged'|website=BBC News|date=5 February 2015 |author= |accessdate= 16 July 2017}}</ref> A facility at Vantage Point Business Village in Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, was selected for the company's interim propeller blade manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dowty.com/feature-stories/dowty-propellers-selects-new-interim-production-facility-location-and-advances-its-recovery-plan/ |title=Dowty Propellers selects new interim production facility location and advances its recovery plan|website=Dowty Propellers |date=9 April 2015|author= |accessdate= 16 July 2017}}</ref>

⚫
On 5 February 2015, a fire at Dowty's Staverton facility caused severe damage to 80% of the factory building, destroying the main production line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-31144128 |title=Dowty fire: Gloucestershire factory 'severely damaged'|website=BBC News|date=5 February 2015 |access-date= 16 July 2017}}</ref> A facility at Vantage Point Business Village in Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, was selected for the company's interim propeller blade manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dowty.com/feature-stories/dowty-propellers-selects-new-interim-production-facility-location-and-advances-its-recovery-plan/ |title=Dowty Propellers selects new interim production facility location and advances its recovery plan|website=Dowty Propellers |date=9 April 2015|access-date= 16 July 2017}}</ref> In late 2019, the company began moving its operations to an all-new purpose-built facility at Gloucester Business Park in Brockworth, on part of the site of the former aerodrome used by the Gloster Aircraft Company. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/inside-massive-new-dowty-propellers-3609555 |title=Dowty Propellers inaugurates new facility in Brockworth|website=Gloucestershire Live |date=4 Dec 2019|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>


==Operations==
==Operations==
[[File:Dowty R391 Advanced Propeller System.jpg|thumb|Dowty R391 Propeller on display at [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]]]
[[File:Dowty R391 Advanced Propeller System.jpg|thumb|Dowty R391 Propeller on display at [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]]]
Dowty propellers are used on many [[turboprop]] [[feederliner]]s, including the [[Bombardier Dash 8|Dash 8]]Q400, [[Saab 340]] and [[Saab 2000]], and on turboprop [[Cargo aircraft|transport aircraft]] such as later models of the [[C-130J]] and [[Alenia C-27J Spartan|Alenia C-27J]]. Dowty Propellers can also be found on [[Landing Craft Air Cushion|LCAC]]s used by the militaries of several countries. The US [[National Air and Space Museum]]'s Udvar Hazy Center, [[Virginia]], has a Dowty propeller on display.
Dowty propellers are used on many [[turboprop]] [[feederliner]]s, including the [[Bombardier Dash 8]] Q400, [[Saab 340]] and [[Saab 2000]], and on turboprop [[Cargo aircraft|transport aircraft]] such as later models of the [[C-130J]] and [[Alenia C-27J Spartan|Alenia C-27J]]. Dowty propellers can also be found on [[Landing Craft Air Cushion|LCAC]]s used by the militaries of several countries. The US [[National Air and Space Museum]]'s Udvar Hazy Center, [[Virginia]], has a Dowty propeller on display.


==See also==
==See also==
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<ref name="Times54338">
<ref name="Times54338">
{{Cite newspaper The Times
{{Cite newspaper The Times
|articlename= Airscrew Firm Sold To Dowty Group
|title= Airscrew Firm Sold To Dowty Group
|section=News
|department=News
|day_of_week=Friday
|date19 December 1958
|date19 December 1958
|page_number=10
|page=10
|issue=54338
|issue=54338
|column=C
|column=C
Line 67: Line 59:


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070716213806/http://www.smiths-aerospace.com/About/Locations/Europe/Gloucester/index.asp Information and pictures: Dowty Propellers] plant in [[Gloucester]], UK, from Smiths Aerospace web site.
* [http://dowty.com Dowty Propellers official site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070716213806/http://www.smiths-aerospace.com/About/Locations/Europe/Gloucester/index.asp Information and pictures: Dowty Propellers] plant in [[Gloucester]], UK, from Smiths Aerospace web site.
⚫
* [http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Dowty_Rotol Grace's Guide] "Dowty Rotol of [[Staverton, Gloucestershire|Staverton]], [[Churchdown]]"
*[http://www.geaviationsystems.com/Products--/Propellers/index.asp GE Aviation - Dowty propellers]
⚫
*[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Dowty_Rotol Grace's Guide] "Dowty Rotol of [[Staverton, Gloucestershire|Staverton]], [[Churchdown]]"


{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom}}
{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom}}

Latest revision as of 21:23, 26 November 2024

Dowty Propellers
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAerospace
Founded1937; 88 years ago (1937) as Rotol Airscrews
FoundersRolls-Royce Limited
Bristol Aeroplane Company
Headquarters
Brockworth, Gloucestershire
,
United Kingdom
ParentGE Aerospace
Websitedowty.com

Dowty Propellers is a British engineering company based in Brockworth, Gloucestershire that specialises in the manufacture, repair and overhaul of propellers and propeller components for customers around the world. It is owned by GE Aerospace.

History

[edit]
One of four 6-bladed Dowty Rotol R391 composite controllable- and reversible-pitch propellers on the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules

The company was formed as Rotol Airscrews in 1937 by Rolls-Royce and Bristol Engines to take over both companies' propeller development,[1] the market being too small to support more than one company. The name is a contraction of "Rolls-Royce" and "Bristol".[1] Rotol's propellers were always considered leading edge, its models equipping the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, and many other Second World War-era aircraft.[1] By the end of the war it had introduced the first five-bladed propeller to see widespread use, used on late-model Spitfires. In 1943 the company changed its name from Rotol Airscrews Limited to Rotol Limited, and in 1952 it acquired British Messier Limited, a specialist in landing gear and hydraulics.

In 1958, Bristol Aeroplane and Rolls-Royce agreed to sell Rotol and British Messier to the Dowty Group.[2] By 1959 Rotol and British Messier along with Dowty Equipment and Dowty Fuel Systems became part of the new Dowty Aviation Division based at Cheltenham.

In 1968, the company introduced the first fibreglass propellers, which went on to see widespread use.[1] Since then it has migrated to carbon fibre, and remains a leader in propeller design.

Following a series of changes of ownership, the original Dowty Rotol facility at Staverton is now owned by the Safran Group, operating as part of its Messier-Bugatti-Dowty landing gear subsidiary (now known as Safran Landing Systems). Propeller design and manufacture was moved a few hundred metres down the road when the company was split into business units under its Dowty ownership in the early 1990s. On 16 January 2007, Dowty Propellers became part of GE Aviation Systems through GE buying Smiths Group’s aerospace division.[3][4]

On 5 February 2015, a fire at Dowty's Staverton facility caused severe damage to 80% of the factory building, destroying the main production line.[5] A facility at Vantage Point Business Village in Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, was selected for the company's interim propeller blade manufacturing.[6] In late 2019, the company began moving its operations to an all-new purpose-built facility at Gloucester Business Park in Brockworth, on part of the site of the former aerodrome used by the Gloster Aircraft Company. [7]

Operations

[edit]
Dowty R391 Propeller on display at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Dowty propellers are used on many turboprop feederliners, including the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, Saab 340 and Saab 2000, and on turboprop transport aircraft such as later models of the C-130J and Alenia C-27J. Dowty propellers can also be found on LCACs used by the militaries of several countries. The US National Air and Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center, Virginia, has a Dowty propeller on display.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Gloucester Transport History
  2. ^ "Airscrew Firm Sold To Dowty Group". News. The Times. No. 54338. London. col C, p. 10.
  3. ^ "agreeing to dispose of its aerospace division to the giant US conglomerate General Electric for £2.45bn ;
    from google (ge buy smith group aerospace) result 5"    .
  4. ^ "2007 – Dowty Propellers becomes part of GE through the company's acquisition of Smiths Group's aerospace division ;
    from google (ge buy dowty rotol) result 1"    .
  5. ^ "Dowty fire: Gloucestershire factory 'severely damaged'". BBC News. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Dowty Propellers selects new interim production facility location and advances its recovery plan". Dowty Propellers. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Dowty Propellers inaugurates new facility in Brockworth". Gloucestershire Live. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
[edit]
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