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General Electric J31-GE-6 (I16-GE-6) Turbojet Engine

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Manufacturer
General Electric Aircraft Engines
Physical Description
Type: Turbojet
Thrust: 7,161 N (1,610 lb) at 16,500rpm
Compressor: Single-stage centrifugal
Combustor: 10 reverse-flow chambers
Turbine: Single-stage axial
Weight: 386 kg (850 lb)
Summary
Early flight tests of the first General Electric turbojet engine, the Type I-A, clearly showed the need for more powerful engines. GE followed with designs generating increased thrust, including the I-16, designated J31 by the military, which first ran in April 1943. About 250 were built, mainly for variants of the Bell P-59 Airacomet.
When the government believed that future tactical needs would require turbojet engines to use the same fuel as reciprocating engines, GE further developed the engine for the U.S. Navy as a 100-octane, gasoline-burning version of the standard J31 engine, which normally ran on kerosene fuel. That version, along with a Wright R-1820 piston engine, powered the Ryan FR-1 Fireball, the Navy's first partially jet-powered aircraft.
Credit Line
Found in collection
Circa World War II
Inventory Number
A19790120000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet)
Materials
HAZ MAT: Cadmium
Possible HAZ MAT: Asbestos
Aluminum Alloy
Ferrous Alloy (Steel Most Likely)
Paint
Unidentified Coating
Adhesive Tape
Paper
Adhesive
Dimensions
3-D: 182.9 × 102.9 × 101.6cm, 385.6kg (6 ft. × 3 ft. 4 1/2 in. × 3 ft. 4 in., 850lb.)
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_A19790120000
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv91eb6ec4d-7c12-4ae9-9195-b354af0c665d

Related Content

  • Propulsion

    Air and Space Museum

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