Classic Engines on Wingweb.co.uk
The latter half of the 20th Century saw the development of many new and often unique aircraft. The high speeds enabled by the jet engine produced new challenges for the designers, and the most interesting period in aircraft & engine development.
Engines are listed alphabetically.
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The General Electric J31 was the first quantity produced jet engine in the United States. It was based on the General Electric I-A, an American version of the original British Whittle W.1 prototype that had been sent to the US in 1941. The GE J31 was adopted for use in production P-59As and P-59Bs.
Like the Allison J33 centrifugal jet engine, the Allison J35 was based on a General Electric Design. It was developed by the General Electric company alongside the Whittle based J33, and was the first Axial-Flow jet engine to be used by the USAF.
The BMW 003 Turbojet began life as a project of the Brandenburg Motor Works in Germany. The Heinkel company had proved the potential of jet propulsion as early as 1937, and the German Air Ministry encouraged other engine manufacturers to initiate their own jet engine developments
The De Havilland Goblin was originally called the Halford H-1 , after its designer, Frank Halford. The second British jet engine to fly, it was based on the Centrifugal Compressor technology pionered in Britain by Sir Frank Whittle.
The General Electric J31 was the first quantity produced jet engine in the United States. It was based on the General Electric I-A, an American version of the original British Whittle W.1 prototype that had been sent to the US in 1941
The Jumo 004 project was initiated in late 1939 in a project led by Dr Anselm Franz, then in charge of Junkers' turbo- and supercharger development. The Heinkel company had proved the potential of jet propulsion as early as 1937, and the German Air Ministry encouraged other engine manufacturers to initiate their own jet engine developments.
Development of the Rolls Royce Avon turbo jet was started in 1945 under the Rolls Royce designation AJ-65 (Axial Jet 65 hundred pounds). This was Rolls Royces first axial flow engine. It was designed by Alan Arnold Griffith as a single spool design with a 15 stage compressor and a design thrust of 6500lbs
The Olympus engine was first developed and produced by Bristol Aero Engines, based in Filton, England. The first use of the Olympus engine was as the powerplant for the Avro Vulcan "V" bomber . To meet the needs of the Concorde , The Olympus required significant modifications.
