Field Experience with the Detroit Diesel Allison 404/505 Industrial Gas Turbine Engines

Detroit Diesel Allison Division of General Motors Corporation has been conducting a field evaluation program on the 300 hp GT-404-3 and the 390 hp GT-505-3 Industrial Gas Turbine Engines over the time period from late 1974 until late 1977. This paper describes the overall program plan which involved installations in trucks, coaches, marine and industrial applications and the field experience which has been accumulated to date. Emphasis will be placed on operator reaction, environmental effects, performance and field revealed problems.

Two particular applications will be explored in considerable detail; bulk hauling trucks with self unloading capabilities and the Greyhound inter-city coach operation with gas turbine power and automatic transmissions.