To more quickly enter post-World War II jet engine production, Pratt & Whitney licensed production of the Rolls-Royce Nene engine in 1947. Converted to American standards, the resulting J42 Turbo-Wasp was first delivered to the U.S. Navy in late-1948 for installation in the Grumman F9F-2 Panther.

Realizing the need for a higher-powered engine, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft worked together on a centrifugal-flow turbojet engine with a 30 percent power increase and no significant increase in overall engine size. Introduced in early-1950, the resulting Rolls-Royce Tay and Pratt & Whitney J48 Turbo-Wasp was then the most powerful engine flying in either country. Pratt & Whitney added water injection and an afterburner of its own design which provided substantial power increases for short periods during combat.

The J48-P-8C powered the Grumman F9F-6 Cougar. Other models powered the Navy Grumman F9F-5 Panther, and Air Force North American F-93A and Lockheed F-94C Starfire.

 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 1952 Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet) Manufacturer Pratt & Whitney
 Physical Description Type: Turbojet Thrust: 32,248 N (7,250 lb) at 11,000 rpm Compressor: Single-stage centrifugal Combustor: 9 combustion chambers Turbine: Single-stage axial Weight: 998 kg (2,200 lb) Dimensions Length 279 cm (110 in.), Diameter 127 cm (50.0 in.)
 Inventory Number A19920002000 Credit Line Transferred from the U.S. Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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