Assignment 5 - Dr. Hans J. von Ohain

Dr. Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain was born in 1911 in Dessau, Germany. He received a doctorate in physics and aerodynamics at Goettingen in 1935. He was employed by the German Heinkel-Hirth Company, where in 1936 he received a company patent for his development of the first aircraft turbine engine. He was a firm believer that sophisticated testing and development were essential before practical application was possible. In 1937, his work resulted in the first successful sustained operation of an aircraft turbine engine. It was fueled by gaseous hydrogen. He soon produced an engine that ran on liquid hydrocarbon fuels. On August 27, 1939, the Heinkel HE-178 became the first aircraft to fly with a turbine engine. This engine ran on liquid hydrocarbon fuel. While at Heinkel-Hirth Company, Dr. Ohain was credited with more than 50 company patents. His continued development of the gas-turbine engine during World War II resulted in the abandonment of the centrifugal flow concept. Instead, the axial flow compressor type engine was adapted. Dr. Ohain and Sir Frank Whittle are now both regarded as the co-inventors of the jet engine.

In 1947, Dr. Ohain came to the United States, and became a research scientist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. During his 32 years working for the US government, he published more than 30 technical papers, and registered 19 US patents. While working for the government, he developed new ideas in the fields of propulsion and power generation, electrofluid dynamics, advanced diffusers and ejectors, dynamic energy transfer, and V/STOL aircraft. He received many awards for his work, including the coveted Goddard Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He retired in 1979 and moved to Melbourne, Florida with his wife, where he died in 1998. He is survived by his four children.

Sources:
http://www.ascho.wpafb.af.mil/encounter/vonbio.htm

http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/ohain.htm

Photo of Ohain:
http://www.pr.afrl.af.mil/focus/ohain.jpg

Jet engine:
http://www.energie-consult.com/img/jet-1.jpg