Object Details
- Manufacturer
- General Electric Aircraft Engines
- Physical Description
- Type: Turbojet
- Thrust: 7,161 N (1,610 lb) at 16,500 rpm
- Compressor: Single-stage centrifugal
- Combustor: 10 reverse-flow chambers
- Turbine: Single-stage axial
- Weight: 386 kg (850 lb)
- Summary
- Through a representative in England, General Electric learned of the pioneering jet engine development of Frank Whittle. This resulted in a visit by General H.H. Arnold, Chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps, and manufacture of the Whittle engine by GE. The American engine incorporated a number of mechanical improvements, and two I-A engines first flew in a Bell P-59A in 1942.
- GE followed with two designs of increased thrust; first the I-14 (aimed at 6,227 N (1,400 lb.) thrust) and then with the I-16. The J31-GE-3 (I-16-3) was an Air Force engine used in the Bell YP-59. It was the same as the J31-GE-1 except that mounting trunnions were reversed for right-hand mounting. The accessory section was also reversed.
- Believing that future tactical needs would require turbojets to use the same fuel as reciprocating engines, the U.S. Navy developed a 100-octane, gasoline-burning version of the standard I-16, which normally ran on kerosene fuel.
- Credit Line
- Found in the collection
- Circa World War II
- Inventory Number
- A19660041000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet)
- Materials
- Aluminum
- Steel
- Paint
- Fabric
- Adhesive
- Anodized Aluminum
- Rubber
- Plastic
- Dimensions
- Length 182.9 cm (72 in.), Diameter 105.4 cm (41.5 in.)
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19660041000
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv903a9a16d-f2d9-42bc-bc3f-3ddd24cb7477
