Adrian Lombard
| Adrian Lombard | |
|---|---|
| Born |
19 January 1915 Coventry, England |
| Died | 13 July 1967 (aged 52) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Coventry Technical College |
| Engineering career | |
| Institutions | Rolls-Royce Limited |
| Projects | Rolls-Royce Derwent, Rolls-Royce Nene |
| Significant advance | Aero engines |
| Awards | CBE |
Adrian Albert "Lom" Lombard, CBE (19 January 1915 – 13 July 1967) was an English aeronautical engineer. Despite having no formal training in aerodynamics, he became one of the world's foremost designers of jet engines. He was involved with the Rolls-Royce company in a variety of roles for almost 30 years.
Adrian Lombard was born in the city of Coventry, Warwickshire, on 19 January 1915. He was the second of three sons of Arthur, a toolmaker, and Louisa. Lombard was taught at the John Gulson Central Advanced School, and later attended evening classes at the Coventry Technical College. After leaving school at the age of 15, he began training in the drawing office of the Rover Company.
After spending five years with Rover, Lombard took a job with Morris Motors Limited where he was put in charge of engine stress calculations and worked as a motor car engineer. However, he returned to Rover in 1936 and within four years was part of Maurice Wilks' design team. In April 1940 Lombard began his work with jet engines when the team was entrusted with the task of preparing the Whittle W.2B jet engine for production. His designs during this period incorporated a new combustion system and were the precursor to the later successful Rolls-Royce Derwent and Nene engines, which powered most of the first generation of British jet fighters.
In 1943, Rover and Rolls-Royce completed a deal in which the latter took over interest in the jet engine production factories in Clitheroe and Barnoldswick. Lombard subsequently joined Rolls-Royce and was appointed chief engine designer of factories in the north of England. He assembled a team that built 100 of the W.2B engines for use in Gloster Meteor fighter planes, while simultaneously supervising the design of the Derwent engine. In October 1945, a Meteor equipped with Derwent V engines broke the world speed record at 603 mph. The design centre was relocated to Derby in 1946, and there Lombard became chief projects designer. His team designed the Avon engine, which powered the Fairey Delta, the first aeroplane to exceed 1,000 mph, and other civil jet aircraft including the de Havilland Comet, the first jet airliner to make a scheduled transatlantic flight. In 1949, Lombard was promoted to chief designer at the Derby plant, and was made Rolls-Royce's chief aeronautical designer three years later.
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