Whittle W.1X Turbojet Engine
date: label: Date
content: 1941
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Power Jets, Ltd. (London, England)
label: Designer
content: Sir Frank Whittle
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Turbojet
label: Physical Description
content: Thrust: 5,516 N (1,240 lb) at 17,750 rpm, 3,781 N (850 lb) at 16,500 rpm (Derated for first flight)
label: Physical Description
content: Compressor: Single-stage, double entry, centrifugal
label: Physical Description
content: Combustor: 10 reverse flow chambers
label: Physical Description
content: Turbine: Single- stage axial
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 254 kg (560 lb)
label: Summary
content: 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.
label: Summary
content: 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.
label: Alternate Name
content: Whittle W.1X Engine
label: Key Accomplishment(s)
content: Pioneering Turbojet Engine
label: Impact or Innovation
content: Jet engines enabled aircraft to fly higher, farther, and faster than piston engine aircraft could.
label: Brief Description
content: 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.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United Kingdom
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
label: Exhibition
content: Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Power Jets, Ltd.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19500082000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Metal
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 161.3 × 121.9 × 111.8cm, 254kg (5 ft. 3 1/2 in. × 4 ft. × 3 ft. 8 in., 560lb.)