GE won a contract for the J93 propulsion system of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber in 1957. The highly-advanced, lightweight single-shaft turbojet engine incorporated variable compressor stator vanes, afterburner, and a fully variable converging-diverging exhaust nozzle; and was the world's first engine designed to operate efficiently up to Mach 3.2. Early flight testing was done with the engine mounted in a pod under a B-58 Hustler testbed aircraft, and the first engines were delivered to the Air Force in 1961.

First flight of the XB-70A powered by YJ93-GE-3 engines occurred in 1964. Because of changes in defense requirements, it was decided to build only two XB-70 aircraft. The second aircraft crashed in 1966, but the first aircraft continued in service until 1969 in a joint Air Force-NASA flight research program primarily for the U.S. Supersonic Transport program. There were no further applications for it when the XB-70 program ended.

 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 early 1960s Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet) Manufacturer General Electric Aircraft Engines
 Physical Description Type: Turbojet, afterburner Thrust: 142,300 N (32,000 lb) Compressor: 8-stage axial Combustor: Annular Turbine: 2-stage axial Weight: 2,359 kg (5,200lb) Dimensions Length 602 cm (237 in.), Diameter 133.4 cm (52.5 in.)
 Materials Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Textile, Copper, Magnesium, Plastic, Rubber, Inconel
 Inventory Number A19820089000 Credit Line Transferred from the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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