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In late 1953, General Electric began a design study of a high thrust-to-weight ratio turbojet engine. The prototype J85 engine ran in January 1956, the first flight was in August 1958 as the power plant of the McDonnell GAM-72 missile, and in September 1958 the prototype North American T-39 Sabreliner flew for the first time powered by the first man-rated J85 engines.

The J85 was the first U.S. small turbine engine to go into production with an afterburner. The most important applications were the Northrop T-38 Talon, the first supersonic trainer, and Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, a low-cost fighter used by many nations from the 1960s through the 1980s. The non-afterburning J85-GE-17A powered the Cessna A-37A/B attack aircraft. The J85 had the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of production engines built for its time (up to 7.3:1 on the J85-GE-21). GE built more than 12,000 J85 engines before production ended in 1988.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

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Object Details
Date 1966 Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet) Manufacturer General Electric Aircraft Engines
 Physical Description Cutaway turbojet engine with a quarter of its exterior paneling removed so that the insides are revealed. The middle exterior panel is green. Type: Turbojet, single-shaft Thrust: 12,680 N (2,850lb) at 16,500 rpm Compressor: 8-stage axial Combustor: Annular Turbine: 2-stage axial Weight: 181 kg (398 lb) Dimensions 3-D (Do not include stand or crank): 114.3 × 66 × 58.4cm (3 ft. 9 in. × 2 ft. 2 in. × 1 ft. 11 in.)
Overall (Includes stand): 114.3 × 132.1 × 81.9cm (3 ft. 9 in. × 4 ft. 4 in. × 2 ft. 8 1/4 in.)
 Materials Metal alloys, aluminum alloys, iron alloys, copper alloys, plastic, fabric, rubber
 Inventory Number A19800072000 Credit Line Transferred from the 175th Tactical Fighter Group, Maryland Air National Guard Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use. You may also like “You Have Left Them Behind”: Jackie Cochran and the T-38 Talon December 03, 2021