Ever tried to make your own jet engine?
 

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has ever experimented and tried to make there own jet engine.

Obviously not to be used for an aircraft but just for a bit of fun? It can't be that hard trying to piece together a simple pulse jet?

A bit of Kiwi ingenuity.......
http://aardvark.co.nz/pjet/

I did that once when I was 10 years or so. Inflate a balloon, stick it on a paper airplane and let it go. My own F-14 Paper Tomcat. It was my only attempt luckily.
Are those modelling guys not often working on small jets that work like a real one?

Not personally but have seen it done on some TV show or another.
Get one LARGE turbocharger (from a big diesel generator or truck) add a combustion section between the compressor and turbine sections then add an exhaust section. one easily constructed, although not very efficient, jet engine!
I accept no responsibility for any injury, death, explosions or loss of hair resultant from the constrction of above mentioned death machine!

I'm not an engineer but I've been flying model aircraft for 30+ years.The problem with model jet engines is the fuel system,which they have cracked with modern micro electronics and radio control.I have just purchased a Wren turbine with electric start,Fadec,and various other gizmos.It is a little jewel.
As far as pulse jets go then the Dutch had a display team in the 70's and 80's.They displayed models at shows etc and the noise was unbelievable.I saw a trade tent emptied in 10 seconds when they started this beast.It could be heard over 10 miles away.You would have to have very understanding or deaf neighbours.
In the 80's we tried to start a home made jet engine.It did a sort of wet start fart,and we shot out of the garage before it did something else.
You can buy kits from Wren and assemble your own turbine.Then strap it to your bike or 1/5 scale F16.However model jet are very specialised and you really need a lot of experience flying models to be safe.
Hope this helps.:ok:

nope, but they have.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=92

Made my own Pullsjet(the V1 flew with these) engine many years ago !
It took us a while to get it running but with lots of noise and smoke it did in the end!


Neil

I'm planning on building a jet engine at some point. The most interesting in my opinion is a gas turbine. I've done a lot of research into it that basicly boils down to the following..
You need a turbo charger from a car (this is the compressor that is driven by the exhaust), you need a combustion chamber (possibly made out of the bottom half of a fire extinguisher?), the high pressure/high temp piping/tubing and fixings, and a fuel supply (bottled gas is a favourite as it naturally vapourises), and a leaf blower to get it going. Obviously lots more to it than that in reality, also helps if you can weld.

These things look brilliant! Check out youtueb etc for vids.

I'm doing aerospace eng at uni next year, so does anyone know if this can be incorporated in some way into coursework? Maybe I could just use the workshops? Anything really.

Apparently the most interesting bit is fine tuning it to optimise the thrust. etc. I think the moment of triumph would be when it actually starts to run under its own power. Can't wait to get my project going.

By the way, if there's anyone in a Manchester/Trafford area thats looking to do it as a joint project, PM me.

Dave

More Kiwi enginuity - the jet powered beer cooler.

http://www.asciimation.co.nz/beer/

Gas Turbines for Model Aircraft (Paperback)
 

Kerosine: Suggest you buy/borrow Gas Turbines for Model Aircraft by Kurt Shreckling, it takes you through, step by step, how to built a miniature engine.

A search in the big online book shop should produce a result.

WWII surplus turbochargers were reworked (added combustor & crude controls) into jet engines - late 40s or so. You might be able to find some literature on this.

This guy has taken the turbocharger based jet engine a long way!
http://www.rcdon.com/html/experimental_projects.html
Cheers
James

The Birdman from youtube, not sure where he got these from, best part is the 'hot water bottle' fuel tanks! :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9DWAuqP-CQ

Any good model shop.

My friend tried to make a pulse jet, but could only get it to work with a constant supply of compressed air. I think the shape of the nozzle was incorrect.

It would be nice if you could make a useful jet(light and powerful)- but I don't think you are going to get a high enough compression ratio across the turbine.

jet engines cont...
 

Hey,

Today, I saw a video clip on yahoo videos entitiled "Guy straps two jet engines to bicycle" or something like that. Though only about one minute long, it shows this guy who has strapped two very small jet engines to the back of his bicycle. The engines are rated at 25 lbs of thrust each, and there was a mention about small jets being available on ebay for about $2250 each. Interesting.

Cheers

As a kid I tried making a pulse jet from an old metal cylinder vacuum cleaner that my mother put out for the bin men. And a gallon of petrol.

Results:

Black smoke lots.
Pulse jet 0.
Garden shed bench top 0.
Thick ear 1.

What was the name of that ex RAAF curl-a-mo pilot who had a Mustang and was preparing it for a record flight across the Tasman from Oz to NZ. He had a couple of small jet engines which he was going to fit to the bomb racks.

Trouble was he tried a bench run with one of the engines secure in a vice. The engine took off with the vice and a large piece of the bench into his neighbours.

Then there were another group of enthusiasts who managed to get a Rolls Royce Avon going on the back of a truck. Engine had no auxiliary gearbox and no igniters. Used a truck starter motor to get it turning and a welding torch burning into one of the combustion cans.

Incredibly it fired up and ran for a short period. No - the truck did not get off the ground but I can imagine a wonderful 'home video' !

Shytorque - thanks crying with laughter.
Off topic but when I was a lad my older (smart ass) brother was in the shed (which was also contained the outside WC) mucking around with his chemistry set when there was an almighty explosion. He emerged hair all over the place, covered in dust & somewhat dazed - mother who was sat on the said WC emerged a few seconds later obviously very deaf, vowing to kill him - he had "invented", bottled & (briefly) set fire to a quantity of hydrogen! :p