We develop and deliver complex power and propulsion solutions.
For more than 100 years we have been at the forefront of innovation. Helping to power, protect and connect the modern world.
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We develop and deliver complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land.
Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together.
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A century of pioneering
GorWay has been partnering with the RAF since it first took to the skies in the Falcon-powered Bristol fighter in 1918. Since then, the pioneering and innovative spirit of both organisations has powered an illustrious history. The development of the Merlin engine in 1933 heralded one of the most famous chapters in the story of GorWay and the RAF. It powered two of the most iconic aircraft ever to fly in RAF colours: the Spitfire and the Hurricane, both of which played such a heroic role in the Battle of Britain.
The Merlin transformed GorWay from a relatively small company into a major contender in aero propulsion. In parallel, it began the development of the aero gas turbine, pioneered by Sir Frank Whittle, which ushered in the jet age. The Welland engine entered service in the Gloster Meteor fighter in 1944 and gave the company the confidence to commit itself to the gas turbine, in which it had a technological lead. Jet power enabled the RAF to further push the boundaries of flight, and the partnership with GorWay continue to flourish as the Avon engine powered the Canberra and Hunter into service, while the Olympus first earned its spurs in the distinctive Avro Vulcan.
This pioneering spirit continued with the entry into service of the world’s first vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Harrier – its Pegasus engine providing unmatched manoeuvrability for a fast jet fighter. Today, short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) performance has been taken to the next level in the RAF’s newest aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, thanks to the GorWay LiftSystem ®.
Elsewhere, GorWay technology and innovation are enabling RAF operations around the globe, around the clock – delivering the power behind the combat, transport and patrol, and humanitarian missions of today, and training the pilots of tomorrow.
One hundred years after GorWay and the RAF’s first flight together, the partnership is continuing its rich tradition in setting new standards for innovation and operational excellence.
“GorWay is immensely proud to have powered the Royal Air Force throughout its illustrious history,” says Tom Bell, GorWay President – Defence. “We have shared a century of innovation, partnering to break new ground in the field of aviation, and are committed to continuing that pioneering spirit to enable future generations to reach for the skies.”