From the earliest piston engines to rocket engines, the Aerospace Museum of California is one of the few museums that allows you to get up close and personal with our engine artifacts. Touch and interact with these magnificent pieces of aviation and aerospace history.
• Intended for continuous operation at extreme high speeds.
• This engine was the first to accommodate 2000℉ gas into the turbine, while the afterburner exhaust reaches 3200℉
Era: 1956-1990
Technology: 9-Stage Compressor, two-stage turbine, Turbo-jet with Bleed Bypass “Ram-jet” cycle
Power: 34,000 pounds at takeoff
Weight: 6,500 pounds
Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, CT
• Primary use was in the Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” elementary pilot training airplane.
• It needed to be hand-lubricated by a mechanic every 5 hours to keep it running.
• This engine was water cooled with a radiator just like in your car.
Era: 1913-1919
Technology: Water-cooled V8
Power: 90 horsepower
Our knowledgeable docents can teach you the history behind the engines, the evolution of their design and craftsmanship. Learn how all of these things informed aviation technology to this day. From the earliest piston engines to rocket engines, the Aerospace Museum of California is one of the few museums that allows you to get up close and personal with our engine artifacts. Touch and interact with these magnificent pieces of aviation and aerospace history.
Come learn the histories about our unique collection. Your guide will share the stories of our aviation and space artifacts and their individual histories.
Aerospace Museum of California is a Smithsonian Affiliate
We are committed to inspire students to explore, dream, and discover Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through hands-on learning.
The Aerospace Museum of California is a 501(c)(3) Organization – TIN 94-2831253
Thursday – Sunday, 9am – 4pm
Closed M-W, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
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