In the early 1960s, under U.S. Navy contracts, Hiller Aircraft Company developed a pulse reactor lift engine for vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) applications that would be competitive with turbojets, but with reduced complexity and cost. Simplicity of the concept was that it had no moving parts, and could operate near the ground without sustaining foreign object damage.

Consisting of package of six pulse reactor tubes, the Hiller engine was a pulsating combustion type with a pulse rate of approximately 100 cycles per second. Following operation on a Navy variable attitude stand under various conditions, it was concluded that the engine was not suitable for use as a V/STOL engine because it would neither start nor operate in a nose-up position (exhausting into the wind) at elevated air velocities; and maximum thrust was approximately 5 percent below that obtained by Hiller. The 0.71 thrust/weight ratio was also considered unsatisfactory for V/STOL aircraft.

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 1960s

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet)

Manufacturer

Hiller Aircraft Company

Physical Description

Prototype pulse reactor; 6 horseshoe-shaped combustors; designed for V/STOL applications; called "Six Pack"; side shields missing.

Dimensions

Width 121.9 cm (48 in.), Height 152.4 cm (60 in.), Length 183 cm (72 in.) (Approximate)

Materials

SteelAluminum, Magnesium AlloyCopper AlloySynthetic FabricAdhesive
Natural Fabric
Paint
Rubber
Ceramic
Nickel Plating
Phenolic Resin
Cadmium Plating
Anodized Aluminum

Inventory Number

A19820088000

Credit Line

Transferred from U.S. Navy, Naval Air Propulsion Center, Trenton, New Jersey.

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

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