Four of these Rolls-Royce Griffon 57 / 58 engines powered the Avro Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft from the early 1950`s through to 1991. Counter-rotating (now referred to as contra-rotating) pairs of 13ft diameter propellers were used to give more efficient low speed cruising at low altitude whilst submarine hunting. This video shows the operation of the gears in the engine which split the 2490 BHP into two, opposite rotation concentric shafts each transmitting 5300 lb ft of torque...yes, you read that figure right!
