The Rolls-Royce Olympus powered the Avro Vulcan strategic bomber.
The Olympus was an axial-flow turbojet originally developed by Bristol Aero Engines. Rolls-Royce took over Bristol’s aero-engine business in 1966, so later versions are commonly identified with Rolls-Royce. The engine’s military development led to its use in the Vulcan, one of Britain’s V-bombers.
The Vulcan used four Olympus engines mounted beneath its distinctive delta wing. The aircraft first flew in 1952 and entered Royal Air Force service in 1956. Later Olympus 593 engines, derived from the same broad engine family, powered the Concorde supersonic airliner.
The Olympus is sometimes confused with other famous Rolls-Royce engines. Merlin was a piston engine used in aircraft such as the Spitfire, while Avon and Spey were different turbojet and turbofan families. The Vulcan’s signature powerplant was the Olympus.