No commercial engine before or since has been required to hold Mach 2.04 for hours on end. The Olympus 593 was derived from the Avro Vulcan’s military Olympus but re-engineered with variable intake geometry, reheat, and commercial-grade durability so Concorde could cross the Atlantic in under three hours.
Olympus 593 Design and Supersonic Operation
The primary subject of this technical guide focuses on the Bristol Siddeley Olympus 593 engine, engineered specifically for Afterburning Turbojet applications. Below is an essential digest of this powertrain configuration.
• Only commercial supercruise engine
• 38,050 lbf with reheat
• Four per Concorde
• Twin-spool axial turbojet
Olympus 593 Technical Sheet
Twin-spool axial turbojet with 14-stage LP and 7-stage HP compressor; 38,050 lbf with reheat; dry thrust approximately 28,000 lbf; four engines per aircraft.
The 593’s most misunderstood feature is that reheat was used for takeoff and transonic acceleration only—Concorde cruised at Mach 2 without afterburner. The engine’s variable-geometry intakes slowed incoming air to subsonic speed before the compressor face, a task as critical as anything inside the engine itself. Heat soak at Mach 2 pushed turbine inlet temperatures to limits that demanded nickel superalloys and careful clearance management.
| Type | Twin-spool afterburning turbojet |
|---|---|
| LP Compressor | 14 stages |
| HP Compressor | 7 stages |
| Dry Thrust | ~28,000 lbf |
| Reheat Thrust | 38,050 lbf |
| Cruise Speed | Mach 2.04 |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 (special high-temp spec) |
Aircraft Powered by the Olympus 593
This engine model is deployed across various operational frameworks. Here is a breakdown of the typical machine or vehicle applications using this unit:
Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde (only application)
Pros & Advantages
Only engine to supercruise in airline service; reliable enough for daily transatlantic schedules; dual-spool efficiency at supersonic speeds.
Cons & Disadvantages
Enormously noisy; fuel-thirsty; required specialized maintenance infrastructure; no other aircraft used it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Did Concorde use afterburner during cruise?
A1: No. Reheat was used for takeoff and transonic acceleration. Concorde cruised at Mach 2 in dry thrust, which is what makes it a true supercruiser.
Q2: How many Olympus 593 engines were built?
A2: Production was limited to Concorde’s small fleet—roughly 60 engines plus spares across the British and French programs.
Q3: Why was the Olympus 593 so loud?
A3: High exhaust velocity from a turbojet core plus reheat on takeoff produced noise levels far above modern limits, which restricted Concorde to specific airports and routes.
Support ended with the 2003 retirement; remaining engines are museum pieces or preserved for heritage operators, with no active airline service.