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Documentation
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"Every type of gas turbine installed in ships of the Royal Navy has been tested at Pyestock" - Ian Mckenzie
Pyestock is a huge site which gradually grew over its lifetime. These maps, plans and documents should put everything in place.
Given the secrecy surrounding Pyestock, it’s surprising that so much documentation has surfaced.
Extensive brochures were produced by both Procurement Executive and DERA,
which outlined the engine and component testing facilities and supporting services; whilst recruitment
brochures also illustrated many of the services available at the site.
Other books have been published devoted to Pyestock and these are listed
in the Selected Bibliography. Of these volumes, Ian Mckenzie’s Pyestock from RAE to QinetiQ,
is the definitive history and is highly recommended.
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Literature
Of all the documentation, the lengthy Engine And Component Test Services offers the most comprehensive
overview of Pyestock. Two versions of this booklet have survived and are reproduced here.
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Maps And Plans
All of the maps, plans and schematics of the various testing cells and services at Pyestock
are presented here. They are taken from the documentation archive, but have all been copied here as well, to
form a comprehensive reference of the facilities at the site.
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Selected Bibliography
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Pyestock from RAE to QinetiQ
Ian Mckenzie
Trafford Publishing ISBN 1-4120-8681-7
A full history of the RAE and Pyestock. Highly recommended. A 'must have' if you're interested in
the site and its history.
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Farnborough's Jets
Richard Dennis
Holmes & Sons ISBN 0-9527363-4-9
An account of early jet engine research at the RAE and Pyestock.
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The Pyestock Altitude Test Facilities
H.M.S.O.
Brief descriptions of the test cells at Pyestock.
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Always A Challenge
Tom Kerr
Self Published A4, 232pp
An RAE Scientist in the Cold War Years: a First Hand Account
Kerr was Director of NGTE 1974-980, and Director of RAE 1980-84. He comes across as an effective manager in handling
various reorganisations imposed on the research establishments, and in maintaining relations with the staff. He also explains how
various admiralty research establishments came to be moved to Pyestock. As he retired well before Pyestock
was run down, it is still presented as an active establishment.
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The former National Gas Turbine Establishment: Building analysis and recording Volume 1.
S. Jackson, J., Chandler et. al.
Museum Of London Archaeology Service, August 2005, 102pp
Survey of the site by MoLAS in 2005. Includes a general description of the site,
a history of gas turbine testing, and detailed histories of
Cells 1 and 2 and
Cell 4. Features both archival and modern pictures of the
site. Highly recommended and includes information not presented here. Unfortunately the accompanying
CD of pictures and Volume Two are not included.
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