Ishikawajima Ne-20

Ne-20
Ishikawajima Ne-20
Type	Turbojet
Manufacturer	Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries
First run	1945
Major applications	Nakajima Kikka
Number built	c.5

The Ishikawajima Ne-20 (Japanese: 石川島 ネ-20) was Japan's first turbojet engine. It was developed during World War II in parallel with the nation's first military jet, the Nakajima Kikka.

Design and development

The decision to manufacture this engine came about because of the unsuitability of two earlier powerplants selected for the Kikka, the Tsu-11 and the Ne-12. The Ne-20 was made possible by Imperial Japanese Navy engineer Eichi Iwaya obtaining photographs and a single cut-away drawing of the German BMW 003 engine.

Only a small number of these engines, perhaps fifty, were produced before the end of the war. Two of them were used to power the Kikka on its only flight on August 7, 1945. Only a few of the engines under construction survived. It was also planned to use the engine to power a version of the Ohka kamikaze weapon, but this was not implemented before the end of the war.

Variants

Ne-20

Standard production engines

Ne-20-Kai

Up-rated version

Engines on display

Three Ne-20s have been preserved to the present day, one at Ishikawajima-Harima's internal company museum in Tanashi, and two at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Specifications (Ne-20)

Data from Turbojet History and Development 1930-1960 Volume 2:USSR, USA, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Hungary^[1]

General characteristics

• Type: Turbojet engine
• Length: 2700 mm
• Diameter: 620 mm
• Dry weight: 470 kg

Components

• Compressor: 8-stage Axial compressor
• Combustors: Annular combustion chamber
• Turbine: 1-stage axial turbine

Performance

• Maximum thrust: 475 kgf (4.66 kN, 1,047 lbf) at 11,000 rpm
• Specific fuel consumption: 1.5 lb/lb/hr
• Thrust-to-weight ratio: 1.01

See also

Comparable engines

• BMW 003
• Junkers Jumo 004

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines

References

1. Kay, Anthony L. (2007). Turbojet History and Development 1930-1960 Volume 2:USSR, USA, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Hungary. Ramsbury: The Crowood Press. p. 258. ISBN 9781861269393.

External links

• Kugisho Ne-20, Naval Air Technical Arsenal, Turbojet Engine -National Air and Space Museum

Bibliography

• Kay, Anthony L. (2007). Turbojet History and Development 1930-1960 Volume 2:USSR, USA, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Hungary (1st ed.). Ramsbury: The Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1861269393.