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In July 1952, Lycoming was awarded a contract by the Air Force Air Materiel Command to develop a free-turbine turboshaft engine designated LTC1 (military designation T53-L-1). The first production engine was delivered in 1959.

The T53's front-drive, concentric-shaft arrangement set a widely accepted U.S. design standard for turboshaft engines, and gave Lycoming its start in the aircraft gas turbine business. It was a key technology contributing to expansion of Army aviation's air-mobility during the Viet Nam War. Airframe applications were the Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) and AH-1 HueyCobra helicopters and Grumman OV-1 Mohawk aircraft.

Development of the T53-L-13 (LTC1K-4) series began in 1959, and the engine first ran in 1960. Qualified in June 1966, the first production engine was delivered in August 1966. The L-13 series powered the Bell HU-1C/D/H Iroquois and the Bell AH-1G HueyCobra. This Lycoming LTC1K-4 (Air Force Model No. T53L1B) turboshaft engine powered a U.S. Air Force Kaman HH-43B helicopter.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date 1966 Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet) Designer Dr Anselm Franz
 Manufacturer Lycoming (Stratford, Connecticut)
 Physical Description Type: Turboshaft, two-shaft free turbine engine Power rating: 1,044 kW (1,400 shp) at 1,250 rpm Compressor: 5-stage axial and 1-stage centrifugal Combustor: Annular Turbine: Single-stage axial gas generator, single-stage axial-flow free power Weight: 249 kg (549 lb) Dimensions 3-D (L x W x H) (Overall (no mount)): 121.9 × 63.5 × 78.7cm (4 ft. × 2 ft. 1 in. × 2 ft. 7 in.)
 Materials Metal
 Inventory Number A19730230000 Credit Line Transferred from the General Services Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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