The General Electric YJ93 turbojet engine was designed as the powerplant for both the North American XB-70 Valkyrie bomber and the North American XF-108 Rapier interceptor. The YJ93 was a single-shaft axial-flow turbojet with a variable-stator compressor and a fully variable convergent/divergent exhaust nozzle. The maximum sea-level thrust was .
Design and development The YJ93 started life as the General Electric J79-X275, an enlarged version of the General Electric J79 turbojet with "275" meaning Mach 2.75, the engine's target operating speed. This design evolved into the X279 when Mach 3 cruise became a requirement, and ultimately became the YJ93.Jenkins, Dennis R. and Tony R. Landis. Valkyrie: North American's Mach 3 Superbomber. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2005. .
The engine used a special high-temperature JP-6 fuel. The six YJ93 engines in the XB-70 Valkyrie were capable of producing a thrust to weight ratio of 5:1 allowing for a speed of (approximately Mach 3) at an altitude of .National Museum of the USAF Retrieved: December 21, 2016 The first engine went on test in September 1958 and featured advanced technology achievements such as electrolytically drilling longitudinal air cooling holes in the turbine blades.
The XF-108 interceptor was cancelled outright, and the B-70 project was re-oriented to a research project only.NB-58A Testbed for General Electric J93
Variants Thrust given in pounds force (lbf) and kilonewtons (kN).
J93-GE-1 with afterburner. J93-GE-3 Production variant produced in small numbers for the North American XB-70 Valkyrie program. J93-GE-3R Variant with thrust reverser, with afterburner. J93-GE-3AR Variant intended for the North American XF-108 Rapier.
Applications Convair NB-58A Hustler (testbed) North American XB-70 Valkyrie North American XF-108 Rapier (intended)
Specifications (J93-GE-3)
See also
References
External links