On 27 August 1939, a Heinkel He 178 aircraft took flight, marking the first time a turbojet engine successfully powered an airplane. This milestone was the result of work by physicist Hans von Ohain, who spent years refining centrifugal compressor designs in Germany to move beyond the vibration and noise limitations inherent to traditional piston-driven engines.
Early Research and Academic Foundation
Born in 1911 in Dessau, Hans von Ohain studied at the University of Göttingen, a key hub for aeronautical research. He attended lectures by Ludwig Prandtl and received his PhD in 1935. During his studies in 1933, he began conceptualizing an engine that operated without a propeller, favoring a continuous process of compression, combustion, and expansion. His early patent application, Process and Apparatus for Producing Airstreams for Propelling Airplanes, utilized a radial inflow turbine paired with a centrifugal compressor.
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After developing an initial demonstration model with mechanic Max Hahn, von Ohain sought support from the aircraft industry. Ernst Heinkel provided the necessary resources for further development, which proved vital as the initial bench tests encountered significant combustion instability. Von Ohain’s work at the Heinkel company allowed him to transition from a prototype to the functional power plant that eventually propelled the He 178, establishing his role in the history of gas turbine propulsion.
Technical Challenges and Comparisons
Von Ohain operated in parallel with British inventor Frank Whittle. In 1935, while preparing his own patent, von Ohain reviewed Whittle's documentation, leading him to modify his application to ensure originality. While both designers focused on centrifugal compressors, competing German firms like Junkers and BMW pursued axial flow designs that eventually defined the industry standard. Despite the performance of his experimental engines, including the HeS8 and 011, none of von Ohain's designs entered full production before the end of the Second World War.
Post-War Recognition
Following the war, von Ohain emigrated to the United States. He continued his career as an engineer and physicist, eventually receiving multiple honors for his contributions to aerospace. In 1991, he and Whittle were awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize for their independent development of the turbojet engine. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1990 and the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2003. He died in 1998 in Melbourne and is buried at Davids Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Dessau, Germany
- Died: 1998, Melbourne
- Education: University of Göttingen
- Primary Employer: Heinkel
- Major Achievement: Designer of the first turbojet-powered aircraft
- Key Award: Charles Stark Draper Prize (1991)
- Citizenship: Germany, United States
- Burial Site: Davids Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Was Hans von Ohain the sole inventor of the jet engine?
No, he is widely recognized as a co-inventor alongside Frank Whittle and Anselm Franz, as their developments often occurred simultaneously.
Did von Ohain's engine design enter mass production?
No, while his designs powered the experimental He 178, his specific centrifugal configurations were not adopted for mass production, unlike the axial flow designs developed by Junkers and BMW.
Achievements
- National Aviation Hall of Fame — 1990
- National Inventors Hall of Fame — 2003
- Affiliated with Heinkel
- Educated at University of Göttingen
- Worked as physicist, military flight engineer and inventor
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