Sir Frank Wittle Dr.

Hans Von Ohain

Powering the Future of Aviation

Written and Researched By:

Everett Brady

Everett Brady Air Carrier Aircraft Systems Professor T. Cushing Term Paper 4.26.06

rom the start of modern aviation! the "argest and most common set#ac$s for any aircraft design %ere in the po%erp"ant system. The &right Brothers %ere the first to successfu""y use a modern! gaso"ine com#ustion! piston engine to sustain po%ered f"ight. Prior to this engine! g"iders f"e% often and often %ith some success. 'any attempts %ere made to use steam engines! #ut %ithout the ra% horsepo%er or means to sustain such an engine in f"ight! these attempts %ere impractica" at #est. o""o%ing ()0*! the year of the

&right Brothers! piston engines in #oth automo#i"es and aircraft improved dramatica""y. By the days of &or"d &ar ++! aircraft piston engines %ere producing unimagina#"e amounts of po%er! often reaching po%er that e,ceeded (000 -orsepo%er. Even #y today/s standards! this is a considera#"e amount of po%er for any one engine! considering that modern sing"e0engine piston aircraft typica""y produce "ess than 200hp. Even using the most po%erfu" piston engine! in the s"ee$est most aerodynamic airp"ane that is possi#"e! speed! fue"0economy and comp"e,ity #ecome a ma1or factor in aircraft design and are the reason ear"y aviation innovators such as Sir ran$ &itt"e and 2r. -ans 3on 4hain! sought a ne% #rea$through in aviation po%erp"ants5 The 67et Engine.8

The son of a machinist! ran$ &itt"e %as #orn in ()09. &hen he #ecame of age! &itt"e! a native Britain! app"ied to the :oya" Air orce and %as accepted #ased on his test scores #ut %as immediate"y re1ected upon his arriva"! due to his sma"" stature and #ui"d.( After some intense physica" training! &itt"e reapp"ied and %as accepted on the third attempt into the :A . +n ()26! under recommendations of his commanding officers! he %as sent to pi"ot training after passing the entrance e,ams.2 By ()2;! &itt"e %as %e"" $no%n as an over0confident sho%0off among his f"ying mates< 4n the other hand! &itt"e %as a"so one of the top graduates of his f"ying schoo" and %as cautious"y accepted #y the :A /s (((th operationa" fighter s=uadron #ased on his sheer s$i"". +n the same year! &itt"e %rote a thesis paper entit"ed uture 2eve"opments in Aircraft 2esign!8 %hich discussed the future of aircraft! main"y in regards to po%erp"ant "imitations. +n his thesis he stated that in order to achieve "onger ranges! #etter fue" economy and higher speeds! aircraft %ou"d #e forced to a#andon the e,isting mechanica""y inefficient! reciprocating engine design and grasp onto a ne% form of po%erp"ant. The po%erp"ants &itt"e proposed that %ou"d a""o% for #etter aircraft performance %ere main"y roc$et propu"sion and gas tur#ine tur#o0prop engines >&itt"e had no initial intention to pursue direct gas tur#ine thrust?. A year after %riting his Aircraft design term paper of ()2;! &itt"e attended the Centra" "ying Schoo" >C S? to study f"ight instructing. +n his spare time from f"ight instruction courses! &itt"e #egan to deve"op the idea of a 1et e,haust prope""ed engine that neg"ected the use of a prope""er.* &hi"e sti"" attending the C S! &itt"e! %ith the he"p
(

6Sir ran$ &itt"e >()090())6?.8 -istorica" igures. BBC 4n"ine. () Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.##c.co.u$AhistoryAhistoricBfiguresA%hitt"eBfran$.shtm"C 2 6Sir ran$ &itt"e.8 The 2ai"y Te"egraph. (0 August ())6! 4#ituaries. (9 Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%0 g.eng.cam.ac.u$A(2DAachievementsA%hitt"eAte"graph.htmC * Pau" Eiverin. 6Sir ran$ &itt"e.8 British 7et Engine &e#site. () Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.ao,1*2.ds".pipe,.comAFe% i"esA ran$&hitt"e.htm"C

of one of his superior f"ying officers attempted to gain officia" support for his idea from the Air 'inistry Science Committee. Being that &itt"e/s designs %ere so far advanced and futuristic! the ministry dec"ared them 6un%or$a#"e8 due to the "ac$ of re=uired ra% materia"s at the time and denied his attempts outright.4 &ithout the support of the Air 'inistry! &itt"e %as forced to deve"op his idea private"y. &itt"e patented his idea on his o%n in ()*2 and started the research and deve"opment firm ca""ed Po%er 7ets Gtd. in ()*D! from funds attained private"y.D +t %as %ith Po%er 7ets that &itt"e and his team %ere a#"e to set the ground %or$ for 1et engine deve"opment< #ut they %ou"d soon find that the tas$ cou"d not #e comp"eted %ith their o%n funding. The s"ightest set#ac$ cou"d dep"ete their "imited funds. &itt"e $ne% that he %ou"d need government funding! #ut ho% cou"d he get the 'inistry to change their minds and come to his teams aideH 'ean%hi"e! in Eermany! a young scientist #y the name of 2r. -ans 3on 4hain continues to deve"op his o%n corresponding idea of a gas tur#ine 1et engine. Born in Eermany in ()((! -ans gre% up to earn a Ph.2. in physics and Aerodynamics and in ()**! proposed 6an engine that did not re=uire a prope""er!8 at the young age of 22.6 After finishing co""ege in ()*D! 3on 4hain #egan %or$ing for :o#ert Poh"! the director of the Physica" +nstitute at the Iniversity of EJttingen! from %here 3on 4hain graduated. A year "ater! aircraft #ui"der Ernest -ein$e" as$ed Poh" and the university for inte""ectua" contri#utions to%ards a ne% aircraft propu"sion design. Poh" recommended his favorite pupi" to -ein$e" and 3on 4hain #egan construction of his prototype 1et concept %ith

6Chasing the Sun5 ran$ &itt"e.8 PBS 4n"ine. () Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.p#s.orgA$cetAchasingthesunAinnovatorsAf%hitt"e.htm"C D 6Sir ran$ &itt"e >()090())6?.8 -istorica" igures. BBC 4n"ine. () Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.##c.co.u$AhistoryAhistoricBfiguresA%hitt"eBfran$.shtm"C 6 K-ans 3on 4hain.K &i$ipedia! The ree Encyc"opedia. 2( Apr 2006! 2( Apri" 2006 @http5AAen.%i$ipedia.orgA%Ainde,.phpHtit"eL-ansBvonB4hainMo"didL4)*)(D2*C

-ein$e" in "ate summer of ()*6.9 By mid0year of ()*9! the first -eS0( 6-ein$e"0 Strah"trie#%er$ (8 >trans"ated5 -ein$e" 7et Engine (? %as running in the "a#oratory. The engines that Sir ran$ &itt"e and 2r. -ans 3on 4hain deve"oped %ere different in design as %e"". &or$ing comp"ete"y separate from each other! on opposite sides of a &or"d &ar! these t%o inventors had very "itt"e practica" $no%"edge of each other "et a"one their specific designs. 2espite their "ac$ of contact! 3on 4hain and &itt"e deve"oped engines that %ere simi"ar in overa"" design and functiona"ity #ut differed main"y in interna" structure. +nitia""y! it seems 2r. -ans 3on 4hain had a #it more difficu"ty %ith his design for the 1et engine. itting the centrifuga" compressor direct"y in front of a singu"ar

tur#ine! 3on 4hain %as forced to %rap the f"ame cans around the outside of the engine.; 2ue to the f"ame cans #eing fitted to the outside edges of the engine! 3on 4hain/s design %as much %ider than &itt"e/s! #ut a"so shorter in "ength from front to #ac$. -ans 3on 4hain/s test engine that he had a mechanic friend #ui"d for a price ran! #ut "ac$ed the performance that he had hoped for. &hen he descri#ed the design to Ernest -ein$e"! he stated that 6garage engine %i"" never %or$ #ut there is nothing %rong %ith the concept as a %ho"e.8) -ein$e" accepted his statement and agreed to he"p fund the pro1ect that "ed to the deve"opment of the -eS0(. The -eS0(! hydrogen fue"ed tur#ine engine! performed %e"" on its first run in ear"y ()*9. The po%er output %as a thrust of 2D0"#s at (0!000 rpm that "ed 3on 4hain to remar$5

'ary Be""is. 67et Engines N -ans 3on 4hain and Sir ran$ &itt"e.8 A#out. 20 Apri" 2006 @http5AAinventors.a#out.comA"i#raryAinventorsA#"1etengine.htmC ; K-ans 3on 4hain.K &i$ipedia! The ree Encyc"opedia. 2( Apr 2006! 2( Apri" 2006 @http5AAen.%i$ipedia.orgA%Ainde,.phpHtit"eL-ansBvonB4hainMo"didL4)*)(D2*C ) K-ans 3on 4hain.K &i$ipedia! The ree Encyc"opedia. 2( Apr 2006! 2( Apri" 2006 @http5AAen.%i$ipedia.orgA%Ainde,.phpHtit"eL-ansBvonB4hainMo"didL4)*)(D2*C

"The apparatus fully met expectations. It reached the anticipated performance, it handled well in acceleration and deceleration, probably because of the relatively small moment of inertia of the compressor and turbine rotor and the great stability of the hydrogen combustion over the wide operational range."10

&ith such a successfu" first attempt at the 1et engine! -ein$e"/s moth %atered for a f"ying prototype. Putting his #est man to use! -ein$e" sent 3on 4hain and his team to #egin the research! deve"opment and construction of a f"ight %orthy gas tur#ine Po%erp"ant that %ou"d #e du##ed the -eS0*. By ()*)! the -eS0* engine %ith its for%ard mounted "i=uid fue" com#ustor %as ready and fitted into the #ody of an -e0(9; test aircraft. Though initia""y the overa"" thrust did not meet e,pectations! after a #it of t%ea$ing the -e0(9; %ith the -eS0* f"e% successfu""y on August 29th! ()*).(( Sir ran$/s engine cou"d very %e"" have #een fitted on the first operationa" 1et aircraft had he on"y had the support from the British Air 'inistry. &ith his "imited resources he cou"d not continue design as he %ou"d have "i$ed or to his desired speed. &itt"e/s design on the other hand %as very sturdy and a""o%ed for a great dea" more engine hours than his Eerman counterpart/s engines.(2 &itt"e/s first engine consisted of a
(0

6Aircraft Engine 2esign Pioneers.8 Aircraft Engine 2esign. *( 2ec 200D. 2( Apr 2006 @http5AA%%%.aircraftenginedesign.comAhistory.htm"C (( 6Aircraft Engine 2esign Pioneers.8 Aircraft Engine 2esign. *( 2ec 200D. 2( Apr 2006 @http5AA%%%.aircraftenginedesign.comAhistory.htm"C (2 'isen$o! A"#ert E. Pu#"ic intervie% %ith Sir ran$ &itt"e and 2r. -ans 3on 4hain. :ec. * 'ay ()9;. Transcript. 6An Encounter Bet%een the 7et Engine +nventors.8 ASC -istory 4ffice. (; Apri" 2006

sing"e centrifuga" compressor %ith another sing"e a,ia" f"o% tur#ine. Ipon testing! a"" seemed %e"" unti" the fue" supp"y va"ve %as opened. &itt"e "ater gave an account of the event that he cou"d have #een $i""ed during. "The experience was frightening. The starting procedure went as planned. y a system of hand signals from me the engine was accelerated to !,000 rpm by the electric motor. I turned on a pilot fuel "et and ignited it with a hand turned magneto connected to a spar# plug with extended electrodes$ then I received a %thumbs up% signal from a test fitter loo#ing into the combustion chamber through a small &uart' %window.% (hen I started to open the fuel supply valve to the main burner )the fuel was diesel oil*, immediately, with a rising scream, the engine began to accelerate out of control. I promptly shut the control valve, but the uncontrolled acceleration continued. +veryone around too# to their heels except me. I was paraly'ed with fright and remained rooted to the spot. The ignition of this ,pooled fuel in the combustor- was the cause of the %runaway.% . drain was &uic#ly fitted to ensure that this could not happen again./

&itt"e/s second reconstruction of his e,perimenta" 1et engine portrays a far more recogniOa#"e vie% of a 6typica"8 1et engine. Ising ten f"ame cans spaced a#out the
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outside of the engine! it %as a#"e to perform to specifications and fina""y gain Air 'inistry Support %hi"e 3on 4hain test f"e% his aircraft a"ready. &ith the Air 'inistry no% interested! they demanded a f"ying mode". &itt"e %ent #ac$ to %or$ and deve"oped the &.( engine that "oo$ed very simi"ar to his e,perimenta" engine/s second version. The &.( engine produced a thrust of (!240 "#s. at (9!9D0 rpm! far more than 3on 4hain/s e,perimenta" engine.(* The engine %as fitted into the E"oster E2;A*) and f"e% in spring of ()4(. or #oth sides of &or"d &ar ++! the deve"opment of the 1et aircraft turned out to #e 6too "itt"e! too "ate.8 The British %eren/t a#"e to deve"op a re"ia#"e 1et fighter in time to counter act the Eerman/s 'e 262 %hich %as unvei"ed into service in summer of ()42. -o%ever! #y the time the Eermans had an effective 'e 262 mode" in ()44! they did not have enough time to significant"y %in over the s$ies. A""ied forces %ere forced to deve"op effective counter measures against the super fast 1et fighters that cou"d out0speed #ut not out0maneuver a""ied aircraft. Though the invention of the 1et engine for aircraft may have not significant"y changed the outcome of &or"d &ar ++! there is no =uestion that the 1et engine deve"opment of Sir ran$ &itt"e and 2r. -ans 3on 4hain advanced the po%erp"ants of %ar machines and civi" aviation forever.

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6Aircraft Engine 2esign Pioneers.8 Aircraft Engine 2esign. *( 2ec 200D. 2( Apr 2006 @http5AA%%%.aircraftenginedesign.comAhistory.htm"C

Works Cited

6Aircraft Engine 2esign Pioneers.8 Aircraft Engine 2esign. *( 2ec 200D. 2( Apr 2006 @http5AA%%%.aircraftenginedesign.comAhistory.htm"C Be""is! 'ary. 67et Engines N -ans 3on 4hain and Sir ran$ &itt"e.8 A#out. 20 Apri" 2006 @http5AAinventors.a#out.comA"i#raryAinventorsA#"1etengine.htmC 6Chasing the Sun5 ran$ &itt"e.8 PBS 4n"ine. () Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.p#s.orgA$cetAchasingthesunAinnovatorsAf%hitt"e.htm"C Eiverin! Pau". 6Sir ran$ &itt"e.8 British 7et Engine &e#site. () Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.ao,1*2.ds".pipe,.comAFe% i"esA ran$&hitt"e.htm"C K-ans 3on 4hain.K &i$ipedia! The ree Encyc"opedia. 2( Apr 2006! 2( Apri" 2006 @http5AAen.%i$ipedia.orgA%Ainde,.phpHtit"eL-ansBvonB4hainMo"didL4)*)(D2*C 'isen$o! A"#ert E. Pu#"ic intervie% %ith Sir ran$ &itt"e and 2r. -ans 3on 4hain. :ec. * 'ay ()9;. Transcript. 6An Encounter Bet%een the 7et Engine +nventors.8 ASC -istory 4ffice. (; Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.ascho.%paf#.af.mi"AencounterAencounter.htmC 6Sir ran$ &itt"e.8 The 2ai"y Te"egraph. (0 August ())6! 4#ituaries. (9 Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%0g.eng.cam.ac.u$A(2DAachievementsA%hitt"eAte"graph.htmC 6Sir ran$ &itt"e >()090())6?.8 -istorica" igures. BBC 4n"ine. () Apri" 2006 @http5AA%%%.##c.co.u$AhistoryAhistoricBfiguresA%hitt"eBfran$.shtm"C