Sujet

Whittle W.1X Turbojet Engine, 1941. Creator: Power Jets.

Légende

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.

Crédit

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art

Notre référence

HRM21A88_023

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

77,2Mo (1,7Mo) / 50,8cm x 38,1cm / 6000 x 4500 (300dpi)

Mots clés

transport transportation technology education flight British color aeroplane aircraft plane airplane war century jet Britain aviation concept 1940s Forties air Transport Colour Smithsonian Institution World War II World War two WWII world war 2 National Air and Space Museum Educational Institution 20th century air and space museum turbojet decade scientific institution Second World War WW2 object 2nd World War Frank Whittle Heritage Art metal NASM PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet) Power Jets Power Jets Ltd Frank Whittle Sir Frank Sir Frank Whittle