TURBOPROP ENGINE

Inventor: Gyorgy Jendrassik and Max Mueller

  • Invented simultaneously but separately by Gyorgy Jendrassik and Max Mueller
  • Mueller's design went into production in 1942
  • This engine is still used by the US Air Force today
  • The engine uses air and gas pressure to turn the turbine

The turboprop engine combined the high speed and altitude efficiency of the turbojet engine, and the low speed and altitude efficiency of the propeller aircraft. The engine works by using air and gas pressure to turn the turbine.
The turbine turns the compressor and the propeller, which provides all of the thrust. This engine was invented simultaneously by a Hungarian inventor working in Budapest, Gyorgy Jendrassik, and then by Max Mueller. Mueller’s design went into production in 1942. This was an important innovation for the air force during the war. It continues to be used in aircraft today, due to the efficiency of its design.

*Picture from http://inventors.about.com/library/graphics/Turbopro.gif

SOURCES:

Aeronautics – Aircraft Propulsion (Turboprop Engines). Last modified March 12, 2004. Accessed April 12, 2004: <http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/flight66.htm.>

  • This website had a more detailed explanation of how the engine worked. It also compared the turboprop engines to other types of aircraft engines.

Types of Jet Engines. Accessed April 12, 2004: <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bljetenginetypes.htm.>

  • This website contains information about the inventors of the turboprop engine, as well as a short explanation of how the engine works.

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