Peter Calder

Peter Henry Calder OBE FREng was a British mechanical engineer; he was head of the development of the engine programme for Concorde.

Early life

He was born in Switzerland. He attended Imperial College London.

Career

De Havilland Engines

He worked for the de Havilland Engine Company, working at their Gas Dynamics Laboratory in Hertfordshire.

Rolls-Royce

Bristol-Siddeley had been formed on 1 February 1959, when Bristol Aero-Engines Ltd merged. On 1 April 1962, Bristol Siddeley took the assets of De Havilland Engine Company Ltd. Rolls-Royce in the 1950s or early 1960s had not, by contrast, similarly acquired smaller companies.
In the late 1970s he was Project Director for the Rolls-Royce RB.2211-22B.

Concorde

By 1965 he was assistant chief engineer of the Olympus 593 project, later becoming chief engineer. He was technical director of Rolls-Royce at Filton, when the engines for the BAC Concorde were being developed. Brian Calvert was Concorde's flight manager, with whom he worked closely.

Personal life

He was awarded the OBE in the 1976 New Year Honours. He married Mary, who died on 29 December 2015. He lived in Portishead, North Somerset. He died 31 August 2013 after a long illness aged 87.