Heinkel HeS 3
| Company type | Turbojet engine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | early 1939 |
| Founder | Hans von Ohain |
| Products | Jet engines |
| Parent | Heinkel |
The Heinkel HeS 3 (abbreviation for Heinkel Strahltriebwerke) holds the distinction of being the first jet engine to successfully power an aircraft in operational flight. Conceived by Hans von Ohain during his tenure at Heinkel, this engine powered the Heinkel He 178 on its maiden flight on 27 August 1939, with pilot Erich Warsitz at the controls. Despite achieving flight, the HeS 3’s thrust output was insufficient for practical applications, prompting development to shift towards the more powerful Heinkel HeS 8, intended as their initial production model.
Development
The design of the HeS 3 was heavily influenced by its predecessor, the Heinkel HeS 1, but transitioned from using hydrogen gas fuel to liquid fuel combustion. Retaining a similar overall layout, the initial HeS 3 featured an 8-blade inducer coupled with a 16-blade centrifugal compressor. Air compressed by the compressor was directed into an annular combustion chamber positioned between the compressor and turbine stages, which contributed to an elongated engine profile.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] The first prototype underwent bench testing around March 1938; however, it failed to reach its target thrust due to employing a smaller compressor and combustor aimed at minimizing frontal cross-section.[1] Max Hahn from Heinkel filed a US patent application on May 31, 1939, which was granted on September 16, 1941 (US2256198) for an "Aircraft Power Plant" based on von Ohain’s concept.
A refined version, designated HeS 3b, incorporated a larger inducer with 14 blades while maintaining a 16-blade centrifugal compressor. To reduce overall diameter, the broadest section of the annular combustor was aligned with the smaller axial inlet of the impeller. After leaving the impeller, airflow was directed forward before reversing direction by 180 degrees to pass rearward through the combustion chamber. Subsequently, air turned radially inward to enter the turbine stage. Although this configuration was less compact than its predecessor, it offered greater simplicity. Additionally, fuel served dual purposes by cooling the rear roller bearing and preheating itself before combustion.[2]
Completion of this engine occurred in early 1939, followed by flight trials mounted on one of the remaining prototypes of the Heinkel He 118 dive bomber. These tests were conducted under strict secrecy; takeoffs and landings used propeller propulsion exclusively, while jet-powered flights were confined to early mornings prior to workers’ arrival. Testing proceeded without major incident until turbine failure ended this phase.
A second unit was finalized shortly after construction of the He 178 airframe concluded. Consequently, full flight testing commenced immediately. During high-speed taxi runs on August 24, brief hops were achieved before a complete jet-powered flight took place on August 27—marking history as the first aircraft propelled solely by a jet engine. Testing continued into November when a demonstration was presented to officials from the RLM, aiming to secure funding for development of a higher-thrust engine; however, no immediate support materialized.
Hans Mauch later informed von Ohain that although RLM officials were highly impressed by the demonstration, concerns existed regarding Heinkel’s airframe division lacking expertise necessary for further engine development. Consequently, Mauch and Helmut Schelp covertly approached various aircraft engine manufacturers in an effort to initiate alternative development programs. After Mauch’s departure in 1939, Schelp assumed leadership and adopted a more pragmatic stance regarding project locations, promptly authorizing financial backing for Heinkel’s pursuit of a more powerful jet engine.
HeS 6
Development of an enlarged model, designated the HeS 6, commenced promptly and underwent testing beneath a Heinkel He 111 towards the end of 1939. Although it achieved success with thrust slightly exceeding 590 kp (1,300 lbf), the engine's mass rose from 360 to 420 kg. Due to its diameter remaining too substantial to replace the intended HeS 30 (109-006) engines on the He 280 fighter directly, this design was ultimately set aside in favor of the more compact Heinkel HeS 8, which featured a straight-through flow combustion configuration.
Specifications (HeS 3b)
References
Bibliography
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- Lutz Warsitz: The First Jet Pilot - The Story of German Test Pilot Erich Warsitz, Pen and Sword Books, England, 2009, ISBN 978-1-84415-818-8
- Military Turbojet/Turbofan Specifications [1] Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
- Pioneering Turbojet Developments of Dr. Hans von Ohain — From the HeS 1 to the HeS 011, Cyrus B. Meher-Homji and Erik Prisell, [2], [3]
