Hans von Ohain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hans von Ohain
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Hans von Ohain in the 1970s
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Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain
14 December 1911 Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt, German Empire
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| Died | 13 March 1998 (aged 86) Melbourne, Florida, U.S.
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| Education | University of Göttingen |
| Occupation | Engineer (jet propulsion) |
| Spouse(s) | Hanny von Ohain |
| Children | 4 |
Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain (December 14, 1911 – March 13, 1998) was a German scientist and engineer. He is famous for designing the first working jet engine. This engine powered the world's first jet airplane, the Heinkel He 178, which flew in August 1939.
Ohain developed his jet engine ideas around the same time as Frank Whittle in Britain. Some people call this a "simultaneous invention." However, Whittle had been working on his design since the late 1920s. He even patented his design in 1930, seven years before Ohain's engine ran. Ohain's first jet engine, the Heinkel HeS 1, ran in March 1937. It was the first jet engine to fly in an airplane in 1939. Whittle's engine flew in 1941. After World War II, Ohain and Whittle met and became good friends.
Contents
Early Life and Jet Engine Ideas
Hans von Ohain was born in Dessau, Germany. He earned a PhD in physics from the University of Göttingen in 1933. This university was a major center for airplane research.
In 1933, while still a student, Ohain thought of a new kind of engine. He called it "an engine that did not need a propeller." He disliked the noise and shaking of traditional airplane engines. He wanted a smoother, quieter way to fly.
In 1936, Ohain patented his jet engine design. Unlike Whittle's design, Ohain used a special kind of fan called a radial in-flow turbine. This worked with a centrifugal compressor to push air.
While at the university, Ohain met a mechanic named Max Hahn. He asked Hahn to build a small model of his engine. They tested the model at the university. It had problems with burning fuel, which caused flames to shoot out. The engine also needed an electric motor to keep running.
Ohain realized the engine's combustion chamber needed more work. His professor, Robert Pohl, suggested they contact Ernst Heinkel. Heinkel was an airplane builder known for being open to new ideas.
Working with Heinkel
In February 1936, Heinkel learned about Ohain's design. Heinkel met with Ohain and his engineers. They decided the idea was good, even if the first model wasn't perfect. In April, Ohain and Hahn began working for Heinkel near Rostock.
Ohain and Hahn worked on improving the engine. Ohain decided to use hydrogen gas for testing first. Hydrogen burns faster and cleaner than gasoline. This helped them test the engine's basic parts.
The first test engine, called the Heinkel-Strahltriebwerk 1 (HeS 1), was very simple. It was built mostly from sheet metal. It started running on hydrogen in March 1937. The tests were successful, even though the high heat damaged some parts.
In September 1937, they replaced the damaged parts. They then ran the engine on gasoline for the first time. It worked, proving that the jet engine idea was possible. Ohain was now catching up to Whittle's progress. With more funding and industry support, Ohain's work moved very quickly.
The First Jet Flight
While the HeS 1 was being tested, Ohain's team designed a new engine for flight. This was the Heinkel HeS 3. It used stronger, machined parts instead of sheet metal. The design was also changed to make the engine smaller.
By early 1939, a version called the HeS 3A was ready. It was put into the Heinkel He 178 airplane for display. However, this engine was not powerful enough to fly the plane.
Ohain's team kept working and created the HeS 3b. This engine was more powerful. It first ran in July 1939. It was tested on a Heinkel He 118 dive bomber.
The HeS 3b engine was then installed in the new Heinkel He 178 test plane. On August 27, 1939, test pilot Erich Warsitz made history. He flew the Heinkel He 178, making it the world's first jet-powered aircraft to fly.
Later Jet Engine Developments
After the successful flight, work began on larger jet engines. The HeS 8 was designed for the Heinkel He 280 fighter. This plane was developed faster than the engine. So, the He 280 had to do gliding tests while the engine was still being built.
A flight-ready HeS 8 engine was installed in March 1941. The He 280 made its first flight on April 2, 1941. A few days later, it was shown to German officials. They were very impressed, and more money was given for jet engine development.
During this time, other German companies were also developing jet engines. Junkers was working on the Junkers Jumo 004. BMW was developing the BMW 003. These engines progressed faster than Heinkel's designs. By 1942, the German Air Ministry decided to focus on the Junkers and BMW engines. Ohain's HeS 8 project was eventually stopped in 1943.
Ohain later said he didn't know about Whittle's early experiments. However, he had studied Whittle's patents for jet engines. This is common practice for scientists working in the same field. Ohain felt that Whittle's patent was more of an idea than a working engine.
After World War II
In 1947, Hans von Ohain moved to the United States. He was part of Operation Paperclip, which brought German scientists to the U.S. He began working for the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
He became the Director of the Air Force Aeronautical Research Laboratory in 1956. By 1975, he was the Chief Scientist of the Aero Propulsion Laboratory there.
At Wright-Patterson, Ohain continued to work on new ideas. He researched gas core reactor rockets in the 1960s. These rockets would use nuclear fuel to create thrust. He also explored magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) for generating power. This idea aimed to get more energy from burning coal.
Ohain also invented the "jet wing" concept. This idea used air from a jet engine's compressor to create extra lift for VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. This concept was used in the Rockwell XFV-12 experimental plane.
Ohain was a great mentor. He inspired many young engineers, including Paul Bevilaqua. Bevilaqua later invented the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem for the JSF F35B STOVL jet.
Ohain received many awards for his work. These included the Charles Stark Draper Prize in 1991, which he shared with Frank Whittle. He was also elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.
Awards and Later Life
Ohain retired from Wright-Patterson in 1979. He then became a professor at the University of Dayton. In 1992, he received the Ludwig-Prandtl-Ring for his important contributions to aerospace engineering.
In 1982, Ohain was honored by being added to the International Air & Space Hall of Fame. This is located at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Ohain later moved to Melbourne, Florida. He passed away there in 1998 at the age of 86. He was survived by his wife, Hanny, and their four children.
Images for kids
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Hans von Ohain (left) and Ernst Heinkel (right) toast after the first jet flight.
See also
In Spanish: Hans von Ohain para niños
