Allison J33 Explained

The General Electric/Allison J33 is an American centrifugal-flow jet engine, a development of the General Electric J31, enlarged to produce significantly greater thrust, starting at 4000lbf and ending at 4600lbf with an additional low-altitude boost to 5400lbf with water-alcohol injection.

Development

The J33 was originally developed by General Electric as a follow-on to their work with the designs of Frank Whittle during World War II. Their first engine was known as the General Electric I-A, but after major changes to adapt it to US production and to increase thrust, it started limited production as the I-16 in 1942, the 16 referring to its 1600lbf thrust. Full production started as the J31 when the United States Army Air Forces introduced common naming for all their engine projects.

Along with the I-16, GE also started work on an enlarged version, known as the I-40. As the name implied, the engine was designed to provide 4000lbf. Apart from size, the main difference between I-16 and the I-40 was the combustion system: the I-16 had ten reverse-flow cans, whereas the I-40 had 14 straight-through combustors. The development cycle was remarkably rapid. Design work started in mid-1943 and the first prototype underwent static testing on 13 January 1944.

Lockheed was in the midst of the XP-80 project at the time, originally intending to power their design with a US-produced version of the Halford H-1 of about 3000lbf. Production of the H-1 by Allis-Chalmers ran into delays, and since the I-40 would dramatically improve performance, plans were made to fit the prototypes with the I-40 instead.

The I-40 became important to the USAAF's plans when the I-16 powered P-59 was skipped over in favor of the I-40 powered P-80 as the US's first production jet fighter. In 1945, the license to actually produce the engine was not given to General Electric, but to Allison instead. Allison, working largely from government-owned wartime factories, could produce the engine in quantity more quickly and cheaply.

By the time the production lines were shut down, Allison had built over 6,600 J33's and General Electric another 300 (mostly the early runs).

In 1958, surplus J33s were used in jet donkeys pushing dead loads at 200 knots to test aircraft carrier arresting gear cables and tailhooks at Lakehurst.[1]

A model of the J33 intended for civil use, designated the Allison 400-C4, in 1948 became the first US gas turbine certificated for commercial transport use.[2]

Variants

Data from: Aircraft engines of the World 1953,[3] Aircraft engines of the World 1957,[4] Aircraft engines of the World 1953,[5]

J33-A-4: similar to -21 without water injection.[6]
  • J33-A-6:, United States Navy (USN)
  • J33-A-8:, (USN)
  • J33-A-10:, (USN) Used as mixed propulsion engine system with P&W R-4360 on Martin P4M[5]
  • J33-A-14: A short life engine powering the Chance-Vought Regulus, 4600abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust.
  • J33-A-16: Similar to the -16A, 5850abbr=onNaNabbr=on
  • J33-A-16A: Powering the Grumman F9F-7, 5400abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust.
  • J33-A-17:similar to -21 without water injection
  • J33-A-17A:
  • J33-A-18A: A short life engine powering the Chance-Vought Regulus.
  • J33-A-20:
  • J33-A-21: 4500abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust.
  • J33-A-22: Powering the Lockheed T2V-1 with bleed air for boundary-layer control.
  • J33-A-23: similar to -35, 4600abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust.
  • J33-A-24: 6100abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust, powers the Lockheed T2V.
  • J33-A-24A: 6100abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust, powers the Lockheed T2V.
  • J33-A-25: similar to -35
  • J33-A-27: United States Air Force (USAF), similar to the -16A,
  • J33-A-29: 8200abbr=onNaNabbr=on re-heat thrust.
  • J33-A-31: similar to -35
  • J33-A-33: 6000abbr=onNaNabbr=on re-heat thrust.[5]
  • J33-A-35: 4600abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust / 5400abbr=onNaNabbr=on with water-alcohol injection, powers the Lockheed T2V and Lockheed T-33.
  • J33-A-37: A short life engine powering the Martin Matador, 4600abbr=onNaNabbr=on thrust.
  • Model 400-C4:Company designation, for commercial use, similar to J33-A-21.[2]
  • Model 400-C5:Company designation of J33-A-23.
  • Model 400-C13:Company designation of the -35
  • Model 400-D9:Company designation of the -33

    • Applications

    Engines on display

    Further reading

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Dempewolff. Richard F.. Jet "Donkeys" for the Jets. Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. 72–75. June 1958.
    2. Here and There : U.S. Gas Turbine Approved by C.A.A . Flight and Aircraft Engineer . 10 June 1948 . Llll . 2059 . 626 .
    3. Book: Wilkinson, Paul H. . Aircraft engines of the World 1953 . 1953 . Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. . London . 11th . 52–59.
    4. Book: Wilkinson, Paul H. . Aircraft engines of the World 1957 . 1957 . Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. . London . 15th . 65–69.
    5. Book: Wilkinson, Paul H. . Aircraft engines of the World 1950 . 1950 . Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. . London . 11th . 46–47.
    6. Book: Wilkinson, Paul H. . Aircraft engines of the World 1949 . 1949 . Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. . London . 7th . 47.
    7. Web site: Engines List . City of Norwich Aviation Museum . 29 August 2023.

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