Williams International
Encyclopedia
Williams International is a manufacturer of small gas turbine
engines based in Walled Lake, Michigan
, United States
. It produces jet engines for cruise missile
s and small jet-powered aircraft
.
worked at Chrysler
on their automotive turbine systems
, but always imagined a wider set of applications for the small gas turbine engine. He left Chrysler to form Williams Research Corporation in Birmingham, Michigan
in 1954. In 1981 the company became Williams International. It has been building small turbofan
engines since the 1950s for use in cruise missiles as well as target and reconnaissance drones.
Using the missile engines, Williams developed a series of personal VTOL
flying craft, including a jet-powered belt in 1969, the Williams Aerial Systems Platform (WASP), also known as the "flying pulpit" in the 1970s, and the X-Jet
, which was evaluated by the United States Army
in the 1980s. The WASP platform was the only competitor to the Garrett STAMP
in the United States Marine Corps STAMP (Small Tactical Aerial Mobility Platform) program of the early 1970s.
Also in the 1980s, Williams identified a need in the general aviation
market for a small, light jet engine to power cost-effective personal and corporate jet aircraft. The company introduced the FJ44
engine, which in turn made possible the introduction of a number of small jet aircraft.
In 1992, NASA
initiated its Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments
(AGATE) program to partner with manufacturers and help develop technologies that would revitalize the sagging general aviation industry. In 1996, Williams joined AGATE's General Aviation Propulsion program to develop a fuel-efficient turbofan engine that would be even smaller than the FJ44. The result was the FJX-2 engine. Williams then contracted with Burt Rutan
's Scaled Composites
to design and build the Williams V-Jet II
, a Very Light Jet
to use as a testbed and technology demonstrator to showcase the new engine. The aircraft and engine were debuted at the 1997 Oshkosh Airshow
. The production version of the engine, the EJ22 flew on the prototype Eclipse 500
VLJ (which had evolved from the V-Jet II), but was subsequently replaced by a Pratt & Whitney
engine.
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
engines based in Walled Lake, Michigan
Walled Lake, Michigan
Walled Lake is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,999 at the 2010 census.-Origins of the name:The town's name is said to have been given by the first Euro-American settler, Walter Hewitt, in 1825...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It produces jet engines for cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
s and small jet-powered aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
.
History
Dr. Sam B. WilliamsSam B. Williams
Sam Barlow Williams was an American inventor and founder of Williams International. He was particularly known for his development of the small fan-jet engine...
worked at Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
on their automotive turbine systems
Chrysler Turbine engines
Chrysler created several turbine engines that were used in road vehicles:*CR1 1954–1956: Plymouth Belvedere 4-door** ~100 hp ** No engine braking** Slow spool up...
, but always imagined a wider set of applications for the small gas turbine engine. He left Chrysler to form Williams Research Corporation in Birmingham, Michigan
Birmingham, Michigan
Birmingham is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan and an affluent suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103...
in 1954. In 1981 the company became Williams International. It has been building small turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
engines since the 1950s for use in cruise missiles as well as target and reconnaissance drones.
Using the missile engines, Williams developed a series of personal VTOL
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
flying craft, including a jet-powered belt in 1969, the Williams Aerial Systems Platform (WASP), also known as the "flying pulpit" in the 1970s, and the X-Jet
Williams X-Jet
The Williams X-Jet, created by Williams International, was a small, light-weight Vertical Take Off and Landing system powered by a modified Williams F107 turbofan aircraft engine. This vehicle was nicknamed "The Flying Pulpit". It was designed to be operated by and carry one person and controlled...
, which was evaluated by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in the 1980s. The WASP platform was the only competitor to the Garrett STAMP
Garrett STAMP
The Garrett STAMP was a two person flying jeep prototype made by a division of AiResearch Manufacturing Co. of Phoenix, Arizona, for the United States Marine Corps STAMP program, in the early 1970s....
in the United States Marine Corps STAMP (Small Tactical Aerial Mobility Platform) program of the early 1970s.
Also in the 1980s, Williams identified a need in the general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
market for a small, light jet engine to power cost-effective personal and corporate jet aircraft. The company introduced the FJ44
Williams FJ44
-External links:*...
engine, which in turn made possible the introduction of a number of small jet aircraft.
In 1992, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
initiated its Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments
Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments
The Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments project was a consortium of NASA, the FAA, the general aviation industry and a number of universities which was shut down in December 2001. Its goal was to create a Small Aviation Transportation System as an alternative to short-range automotive...
(AGATE) program to partner with manufacturers and help develop technologies that would revitalize the sagging general aviation industry. In 1996, Williams joined AGATE's General Aviation Propulsion program to develop a fuel-efficient turbofan engine that would be even smaller than the FJ44. The result was the FJX-2 engine. Williams then contracted with Burt Rutan
Burt Rutan
Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan is an American aerospace engineer noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, energy-efficient aircraft...
's Scaled Composites
Scaled Composites
Scaled Composites is an aerospace company founded by Burt Rutan and currently owned by Northrop Grumman that is located at the Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California, United States...
to design and build the Williams V-Jet II
Williams V-Jet II
The Williams V-Jet II was designed and built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites for Williams International as a test bed and demonstrator aircraft for Williams' new FJX-2 turbofan engine.- Development :...
, a Very Light Jet
Very Light Jet
A very light jet, entry-level jet or personal jet, previously known as a microjet, is a category of small jet aircraft approved for single-pilot operation, seating 4-8 people, with a maximum take-off weight of under...
to use as a testbed and technology demonstrator to showcase the new engine. The aircraft and engine were debuted at the 1997 Oshkosh Airshow
Oshkosh Airshow
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is America's largest annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts held each summer at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States....
. The production version of the engine, the EJ22 flew on the prototype Eclipse 500
Eclipse 500
The Eclipse 500 is a small six-seat business jet aircraft manufactured by Eclipse Aviation.Eclipse 500 became the first of a new class of Very Light Jet when it was delivered in late 2006...
VLJ (which had evolved from the V-Jet II), but was subsequently replaced by a Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
engine.
Products
- Williams WR19, used in cruise missiles and drones
- Williams F107, used in a variety of cruise missiles
- Williams F112Williams F112|-See also:-External links:* * http://www.forecastinternational.com/samples/F655_CompleteSample.pdf*...
, used in cruise missiles and experimental aircraft - Williams FJ22, a derivative of the FJX-2; also known as the EJ-22, for the VLJ market
- Williams FJ33Williams FJ33The Williams FJ33 is a family of turbofan jet engines intended for use in very light jet aircraft. The FJ33 is a scaled-down version of the FJ44 engine.-Design:...
, for the VLJ market - Williams FJ44Williams FJ44-External links:*...
, produced in conjunction with Rolls-Royce North AmericaRolls-Royce North AmericaRolls-Royce North America, Inc. is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc involved principally in the manufacture of gas turbine engines and other propulsion systems...
for light business jet aircraft - Williams X-JetWilliams X-JetThe Williams X-Jet, created by Williams International, was a small, light-weight Vertical Take Off and Landing system powered by a modified Williams F107 turbofan aircraft engine. This vehicle was nicknamed "The Flying Pulpit". It was designed to be operated by and carry one person and controlled...
, experimental VTOLVTOLA vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
platform from the 1960s - Williams WR34, turboshaft
- Williams WR44, used in cruise missiles and the Foxjet ST600
- Williams WST117, turboshaft
See also
- EV1 Series Hybrid, a gas turbineGas turbineA gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
hybrid vehicleHybrid vehicleA hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
prototype - Chrysler turbine enginesChrysler Turbine enginesChrysler created several turbine engines that were used in road vehicles:*CR1 1954–1956: Plymouth Belvedere 4-door** ~100 hp ** No engine braking** Slow spool up...