This display shows one of the earliest examples of a gas turbine engine (1937). Designed in England by Sir Frank Whittle, the engine utilizes a centrifigal type compressor to drive air into a combustion chamber. This air, combined with fuel (usually kerosene) continuously burned, and at a constant pressure, delivered to drive a turbine. All energy was used to propel the engine by direct reaction (less turbine return), with the hot gases being accelerated through profiled nozzles. This type of engine is commonly known as a Turbo-Jet.

The Whittle engine was licenced to GE in 1941. The GE engine (display unit above) was further developed to provide 1,400 lbs of thrust (original English version 1,200 lbs).

The engine on display is one of 12 GE Whittle Engines still in existence today