Pratt & Whitney J48

J48
A Pratt & Whitney J48
Type Turbojet
National origin United Kingdom/United States
Manufacturer Pratt & Whitney
Major applications Grumman F9F Panther
Grumman F-9 Cougar
Lockheed F-94 Starfire
Number built 4,108
Developed from Rolls-Royce RB.44 Tay

The Pratt & Whitney J48 (company designation JT7) is a turbojet engine developed by Pratt & Whitney as a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Tay. The Tay/J48 was an enlarged development of the Rolls-Royce Nene (Pratt & Whitney J42).

Design and development

In 1947, at the behest of the United States Navy, Pratt & Whitney entered into an agreement to produce the Rolls-Royce Nene centrifugal-flow turbojet engine under license as the J42 (company designation JT6), for use in the Grumman F9F Panther fighter aircraft.[1] Concerned that the Nene would not have the potential to cope with future weight growth in improved versions of the Panther, Luke Hobbs, vice president of engineering for P&W's parent company, the United Aircraft Corporation, requested that Rolls-Royce design a more powerful engine based on the Nene, which Pratt & Whitney would also produce.

By 1948, Rolls-Royce had designed the Tay turbojet, also a centrifugal-flow design. However, as Rolls-Royce was then developing an improved design with an axial compressor, which would become the Avon, the development and production of the Tay turbojet was left to Pratt & Whitney.[1][2] However, Rolls-Royce retained the rights to the Tay outside of the United States.

The Tay/J48 was a thirty percent enlargement of the preceding Nene/J42, and was produced both with and without afterburning.[2]

Operational history

Several aircraft types used the J48 engine during the 1950s, including the Grumman F9F-5 Panther.[3] and Grumman F9F-6/F9F-8 Cougar,[4] The U.S. Air Force's Lockheed F-94C Starfire[5] and North American YF-93 used afterburning versions of the J48 engine.[6]

Variants

Data from The Engines of Pratt & Whitney: A Technical History.[7]

  • J48-P-1: 6,000 lbf (26.7 kN), 8,000 lbf (35.6 kN) thrust with afterburning
  • J48-P-2: 6,250 lbf (27.8 kN), 7,000 lbf (31.1 kN) thrust with water injection
  • J48-P-3: 6,000 lbf (26.7 kN), 8,000 lbf (35.6 kN) thrust with afterburning
  • J48-P-5: 6,350 lbf (28.2 kN), 8,750 lbf (38.9 kN) thrust with afterburning
  • J48-P-6: 6,250 lbf (27.8 kN), 7,000 lbf (31.1 kN) thrust with water injection
  • J48-P-7: 6,350 lbf (28.2 kN), 8,750 lbf (38.9 kN) thrust with afterburning
  • J48-P-8: 7,250 lbf (32.2 kN) thrust
  • J48-P-8A: 7,250 lbf (32.2 kN) thrust

Applications

Specifications (J48-P-8A)

A Pratt & Whitney J48 with afterburner

Data from The Engines of Pratt & Whitney: A Technical History.[7]

General characteristics

  • Type: Turbojet
  • Length: 109.75 in (2,788 mm) without fixed nozzle
  • Diameter: 50.5 in (1,280 mm)
  • Dry weight: 2,080 lb (940 kg) dry

Components

  • Compressor: single-stage double-sided Centrifugal compressor
  • Combustors: Nine interconnected can combustion chambers
  • Turbine: single stage axial
  • Fuel type: Aviation kerosene
  • Oil system: Pressure spray with scavenge

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Connors, p.202
  2. 1 2 Gunston 2006, p.195.
  3. ↑ F9F Panther, U.S. Navy Historical Office. Accessed 2011-01-06.
  4. ↑ Bishop and Chant 2004, p. 154
  5. ↑ RAF Flying Review "TECHNICAL GEN" authors: staff, September 1962 page 59
  6. ↑ North American YF-93A. National Museum of the US Air Force fact sheet. Accessed 2017-07-16
  7. 1 2 Connors, p.210
Bibliography

  • Bishop, Chris; Chris Chant (2004). Aircraft Carriers: The world's greatest naval vessels and their aircraft. Minneapolis, MN: Zenith Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-2005-1.
  • Connors, Jack (2010). The Engines of Pratt & Whitney: A Technical History. Reston. Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-60086-711-8.
  • Gunston, Bill (2006). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines, 5th Edition. Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7509-4479-X.
  • Kay, Anthony L. (2007). Turbojet History and Development 1930–1960 Volume 2:USSR, USA, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Hungary (1st ed.). Ramsbury: The Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1861269393.

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