General Electric J31
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The General Electric J31 was the first jet engine produced in quantity in the United States, essentially a production version of the prototype Whittle W.1 that had been sent to the US after the Tizard Mission successes. General Electric's extensive experience in turbocharger production made them the natural choice for producing the engine, which they initially referred to as the I-16, I-A referring to the original prototype. The USAAF later decided to standardize all their jet engine naming, at which point the I-16 became the J31.
Like the W.1, the I-16 produced 1,650 pounds force (7.3 kN) of thrust and weighted about 850 lb. Production started for the P-59 Airacomet in 1943, and by the time the lines shut down in 1945, a total of 241 had been built. GE also used the basic design to produce the much larger I-40 with 4,000 lbf, but this design was passed on to Allison Engine as the J33, much to GE's chagrin.
[edit] Specifications (J31)
General characteristics
- Type: Turbojet
- Length:
- Diameter:
- Dry weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
Components
- Compressor: Single stage centrifugal
- Turbine: Single stage
Performance
- Thrust: 1,650 lbf (7.33 kN)
- Power-to-weight ratio:
[edit] Uses
- Bell P-59 Airacomet
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