Whittle W.1X Turbojet Engine

Object Details

Manufacturer

Power Jets, Ltd. (London, England)

Designer

Sir Frank Whittle

Physical Description

Type: Turbojet

Thrust: 5,516 N (1,240 lb) at 17,750 rpm, 3,781 N (850 lb) at 16,500 rpm (Derated for first flight)

Compressor: Single-stage, double entry, centrifugal

Combustor: 10 reverse flow chambers

Turbine: Single- stage axial

Weight: 254 kg (560 lb)

Summary

Sir Frank Whittle's jet aircraft engine was patented in 1932, and Power Jets, Ltd. formed in 1936. The Whittle Unit bench test engine first ran on April 12, 1937. In 1939, the British Air Ministry placed a contract for the W.1 engine to be flight tested on the new Gloster E.28/39 aircraft. During taxiing tests, the W.1X non-airworthy engine unofficially became the first British turbojet to be airborne when the E.28/39 made short, straight hops. The W.1 flew officially in the E.28/39 on May 15, 1941.

The W.1X and drawings of the W.2B production engine were delivered to the General Electric Company on October 1, 1941. GE's improved and uprated version, the IA, powered the first U.S. jet aircraft, the Bell XP-59A Airacomet on October 2, 1942. At the end of its useful life, the W.1X was returned to England. On November 8, 1949, the W.1X was presented to the Smithsonian by Power Jets, Ltd.

Alternate Name

Whittle W.1X Engine

Key Accomplishment(s)

Pioneering Turbojet Engine

Impact or Innovation

Jet engines enabled aircraft to fly higher, farther, and faster than piston engine aircraft could.

Brief Description

This is one of the first turbojet engines. British engineer Sir Frank Whittle patented his pioneering design in 1932. The engine first flew on the E.28/39 in 1941 marking the unofficial first flight of a British jet aircraft.

Credit Line

Gift of Power Jets, Ltd.

1941

Inventory Number

A19500082000

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet)

Materials

Metal

Dimensions

Overall: 161.3 × 121.9 × 111.8cm, 254kg (5 ft. 3 1/2 in. × 4 ft. × 3 ft. 8 in., 560lb.)

Country of Origin

United Kingdom

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

National Air and Space Museum

Record ID

nasm_A19500082000

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9bcc8bf75-390a-4bfd-940e-6646aae96ff6