This week, a notable milestone in the history of aircraft engines: the jet engine. Powered by GE jet engines and acclaimed as America’s first jet — this Bell XP-59A first flew on October 2, 1942 at Edwards AFB and ushered in the jet age.
Notice several things about the jet engines in particular. They are mounted at the wing root, a common theme for fighter aircraft in contrast to transport. There does not appear to be any area ruling (shaping of the fuselage like a coke bottle to reduce drag). In fact, the inlets/pods of the engines are very wide relative to the diameter of the exhaust.
Notice next where the engine inlet meets the fuselage is a design feature used to remove the boundary before air enters the inlet. (I would venture a guess that the boundary layer was a bit thicker than that.)
I had to mention that this last picture reminded me, ever so slightly, of the F-4′s aft end.
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