Heinkel HeS 1

Heinkel Strahltriebwerke

Industry	Aerospace, Jet engine manufacturing
Founded	1936
Founder	Ernst Heinkel
Headquarters	Rostock (Marienehe airfield), Warnemünde , Germany
Products	Jet engines (Heinkel HeS 1)

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The Heinkel HeS 1 (HeS standing for Heinkel Strahltriebwerke) represented Germany's inaugural jet engine, developed as a stationary test model powered by hydrogen fuel.

History

In 1933, Hans von Ohain completed his doctoral dissertation at the University of Göttingen, focusing on an optical microphone designed to capture sound directly onto film. The patent was subsequently acquired by Siemens for RM 3,500, a considerable amount at the time.

Von Ohain utilized these funds to pursue his primary passion: the gas turbine. By 1934, he engaged his mechanic, Max Hahn, to construct a prototype based on his theoretical design. This early device, later dubbed the "garage engine," suffered rapid failure due to the use of metals unable to withstand high temperatures. Despite this setback, it demonstrated promise and attracted the attention of his academic advisor, Robert Pohl.

In February 1936, Pohl reached out to Ernst Heinkel on von Ohain’s behalf, presenting the design and its potential applications. Heinkel convened a meeting where his engineering team rigorously questioned von Ohain. Although von Ohain acknowledged that the existing "garage engine" was not viable in its current form, he affirmed the soundness of the underlying concept. Convinced by these discussions, Heinkel arranged for von Ohain and Hahn to relocate to his facilities at Marienehe airfield near Rostock, Germany, in Warnemünde by April.

Upon relocation, they analyzed the engine’s airflow characteristics and implemented several enhancements over a two-month period. Encouraged by improved results, they resolved to develop an entirely new engine incorporating these refinements and fueled by hydrogen gas. This new model, named Heinkel-Strahltriebwerk 1 (HeS 1), meaning Heinkel Jet Engine 1, was crafted by selecting some of the company’s most skilled machinists—much to the frustration of production supervisors. Meanwhile, Hahn concentrated on solving combustion challenges, leveraging his prior expertise in that domain.

The design was notably straightforward and primarily constructed from sheet metal. Assembly began in late summer 1936 and concluded by March 1937. The engine achieved its inaugural run in September 1937. Although not intended as a flight-capable model, it conclusively demonstrated that the fundamental principle was feasible.

While development of the HeS 1 proceeded, efforts had already shifted toward creating a flight-suitable version, which would become the HeS 3.

Bibliography

• Sterling Michael Pavelec, The Jet Race and the Second World War, Greenwood, 2007, pages 18–22