682. Jet Engine Weight and Thrust Trends Including Future Development Promises by the Engine Manufacturers

Paper

Abstract

The objective of the paper is to set the stage for discussion of projected trends on which some current engine manufacturers proposal weights do not appear to correlate.
Jet Engine Development from the first Naval aircraft in the early 40’s to projected engines of the early seventies, is shown based on plots of engine thrust, weight, and fuel specifics.
Improvements in engine efficienc evident from these charts are then used to show the effect on the Naval fighter and attack aircraft over the time period involved. A current on-the-board sample fighter is then stretched based on the requirement tha t1950 vintage engine efficiencies be used to see the effect in pounds on takeoff gross weight.
Proposed engine manufacturer data for early nineteen seventies engines are also plotted with indications that substantial increases in efficiency over those shown by the trend must be obtained if the engine specs are to be made good.