| HeS 3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| A sectioned Heinkel HeS 3 Turbojet engine at the Deutsches Museum | |
| Type | Centrifugal flow turbojet engine |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Heinkel-Hirth Motorenwerke |
| First run | 1939 |
| Major applications | Heinkel He 178 |
| Developed from | Heinkel HeS 1 |
The Heinkel HeS 3 (HeS - Heinkel Strahltriebwerke) was the world's first operational jet engine to power an aircraft. Designed by Hans von Ohain while working at Heinkel, the engine first flew as the primary power of the Heinkel He 178, piloted by Erich Warsitz on 27 August 1939. Although successful, the engine had too little thrust to be really useful, and work started on the more powerful Heinkel HeS 8 as their first production design.