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Engine, Fredric Flader XJ55-FF-1 Turbojet

Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Manufacturer

Fredric Flader (Tonawanda, New York)

Physical Description

Type: Turbojet
Thrust: 3,425 N (770 lb)
Compressor: Single-stage axial supersonic
Combustor: Annular
Turbine: Single-stage axial
Weight: 136 kg (300 lb)

Summary

In 1948, the Army Air Forces awarded a contract to Ryan to develop the XQ-2 jet-powered target aircraft. To power the aircraft, the Wright Air Development Center had earlier awarded a contract to Fredric Flader, Inc. for the XJ55-FF-1 turbojet engine, with a unique feature being its single-stage "shock-in-rotor" (supersonic) axial-flow compressor.
At the beginning of 1952, a Flader development engine obtained the contractually specified thrust of 3,136 N (700 lb). Unfortunately, it was necessary to exceed the specified turbine design turbine to achieve that thrust and, after one minute, the turbine failed and the engine blew up. As a result, the Air Force recommended that work on the XJ55 be terminated due to its technical shortcomings, and because the Fairchild YJ44 and French Turbomeca Marbore II (later J69), licensed to Continental, were suitable substitute engines for the XQ-2. This cancellation ended Flader's aircraft gas turbine engine development.

Credit Line

Transferred from the U.S. Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Date

Circa 1948

Inventory Number

A19600244000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet)

Materials

HAZMAT: Cadmium Plating, Magnesium Alloy
Steel
Aluminum
Anodized Aluminum
Copper Alloy
Stainless Steel
Rubber
Wood
Plastic
Adhesive
Paint
Paper
Natural Fabric
Ceramic

Dimensions

Length 181.6 cm (71.5 in.), Diameter 38.9 cm (15.3 in.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Metadata Usage

Not determined

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9ba3bca1e-e252-4e15-984d-408567950096

Record ID

nasm_A19600244000

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