General Electric J31-GE-4 or -5 (I-16-4 or-5) Turbojet Engine

Object Details

Physical Description: Type: Turbojet; Thrust: 7,161 N (1,610 lb) at 16,500 rpm; Compressor: Single-stage centrifugal; Combustor: 10 reverse-flow combustion 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-4 or -5 (I-16-4 or-5) models provided continuing improvements such as improved turbine cooling intended for the P-59 aircraft.; Believing 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. The Navy’s first application of jet propulsion was the Ryan FR Fireball, a mixed-power (piston and jet-powered) fighter aircraft.

Circa World War II

Materials: Aluminum; Paint; Steel; Rubber; Adhesive; Paper; Cadmium Plating
Dimensions: Approximate: 185.4 × 124.5 × 99.1cm (73 × 49 × 39 in.); 3-D (Current Storage): 120.7 × 127 × 201.9cm (47 1/2 × 50 × 79 1/2 in.); Storage: 215.9 × 154.9 × 129.5cm (85 × 61 × 51 in.); Overall: 850lb. (385.6kg); Other: 72 x 41 1/2in. (182.9 x 105.4cm)

National Air and Space Museum

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9915b5e49-64bd-4462-ac77-41a729ffa43f