In 1948, the Army Air Forces awarded a contract to Ryan to develop the XQ-2 jet-powered target aircraft. To power the aircraft, the Wright Air Development Center had earlier awarded a contract to Fredric Flader, Inc. for the XJ55-FF-1 turbojet engine, with a unique feature being its single-stage "shock-in-rotor" (supersonic) axial-flow compressor.

At the beginning of 1952, a Flader development engine obtained the contractually specified thrust of 3,136 N (700 lb). Unfortunately, it was necessary to exceed the specified turbine design turbine to achieve that thrust and, after one minute, the turbine failed and the engine blew up. As a result, the Air Force recommended that work on the XJ55 be terminated due to its technical shortcomings, and because the Fairchild YJ44 and French Turbomeca Marbore II (later J69), licensed to Continental, were suitable substitute engines for the XQ-2. This cancellation ended Flader's aircraft gas turbine engine development.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date Circa 1948 Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet) Manufacturer Fredric Flader (Tonawanda, New York)
 Physical Description Type: Turbojet Thrust: 3,425 N (770 lb) Compressor: Single-stage axial supersonic Combustor: Annular Turbine: Single-stage axial Weight: 136 kg (300 lb) Dimensions Length 181.6 cm (71.5 in.), Diameter 38.9 cm (15.3 in.)
 Materials HAZMAT: Cadmium Plating, Magnesium Alloy
Steel
Aluminum
Anodized Aluminum
Copper Alloy
Stainless Steel
Rubber
Wood
Plastic
Adhesive
Paint
Paper
Natural Fabric
Ceramic
 Inventory Number A19600244000 Credit Line Transferred from the U.S. Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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