| J47 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Preserved General Electric J47 | |
| Type | Turbojet |
| Manufacturer | General Electric |
| First run | 21 June 1947 |
| Major applications | Boeing B-47 Stratojet Convair B-36 Peacemaker North American B-45 Tornado North American F-86 Sabre |
| Number built | 36,500 |
| Developed from | General Electric J35 |
| Developed into | General Electric J73 |
The General Electric J47 turbojet (GE company designation TG-190) was developed by General Electric from its earlier J35.[1] It first flew in May 1948. The J47 was the first axial-flow turbojet approved for commercial use in the United States. It was used in many types of aircraft, and more than 30,000 were manufactured before production ceased in 1956. It saw continued service in the US military until 1978. Packard built 3,025 of the engines under license.
The J47's greatest advantage, as advertised, was its array of features which were unavailable and unprecedented in any other engine. It was advertised as an 'all-weather engine' due to its anti-icing systems which allowed it to perform at high altitudes and extreme temperatures where other aircraft's performance suffered. Its development began without an explicit need for it, although this design was quickly purchased by the military for its many potential benefits.[2]
In 1978, J47s were formally withdrawn from active military duty when the Air National Guard retired the jet-boosted KC-97Js.[3] Despite this, these engines are still extensively utilized in F-86 Sabre jets owned by civilians, making them a common sight at air shows.
- ^ "1954 | 0996 | Flight Archive". www.flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-07.
- ^ Daugherty, Gina (2019-07-01). "Cold War Child: How the GE J47 Became the World's Most Produced Jet Engine". The GE Aerospace Blog | Aviation & Flight News. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ "TINKER HISTORY: General Electric J47 turbojet engine profile". Tinker Air Force Base. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2023-06-11.