Jendrassik Cs-1
World's first working turboprop engine, designed by György Jendrassik.
The Jendrassik Cs-1 holds the distinction of being the first turboprop engine ever to operate. Hungarian engineer György Jendrassik, who had been experimenting with gas turbines, designed it in 1937 for the RMI-1, a twin-engine heavy fighter being developed in Hungary. A bench test in 1940 marked the engine’s first run, but problems with combustion kept its power output at roughly 400 bhp, far below the 1,000 bhp it was designed to deliver. Development ceased in 1941 after the Hungarian air force chose the Messerschmitt Me 210 Ca-1 for the heavy fighter role, and the factory shifted to building Daimler-Benz DB 605 engines instead. The RMI-1 prototype was later fitted with those engines in 1944.
Quick Facts
- Engine Type
- Turboprop
- National Origin
- Hungary
- Manufacturer
- Ganz Works
- Designer
- György Jendrassik
- First Run
- 1940
- Major Applications
- Varga RMI-1 X/H
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
György Jendrassik worked on gas turbines and established the Invention Development and Marketing Co. Ltd. in 1936 to speed up research. After running a small experimental gas turbine of 100 bhp in 1937, he began designing a larger turboprop engine, which was produced and tested at the Ganz works in Budapest. The Cs-1 was of axial-flow design with a 15-stage compressor and 7-stage turbine, incorporating modern features such as a rigid compressor-turbine rotor assembly, a single annular reverse-flow combustion chamber, air-cooled turbine discs, and blades with extended roots to reduce heat transfer. The annular air intake surrounded a reduction gear for propeller drive, and the exhaust duct was also annular.
With a predicted output of 1,000 bhp at 13,500 rpm, the Cs-1 stirred interest in the Hungarian aircraft industry, and construction of a twin-engined fighter-bomber powered by Cs-1s, the Varga RMI-1 X/H, began. The first bench run took place in 1940, making it the world's first turboprop engine to run, but combustion problems limited output to around 400 bhp. Work on the engine stopped in 1941 when the Royal Hungarian Air Force selected the Messerschmitt Me 210 Ca-1 for the heavy fighter role, and the engine factory converted to producing the Daimler-Benz DB 605. The prototype RMI-1 was later fitted with these engines in 1944.
Reader's Guide
The Jendrassik Cs-1 holds a unique place in aviation history as the first turboprop engine to run, preceding better-known designs by several years. Its development demonstrated early recognition of the potential of gas turbines for propeller-driven aircraft, incorporating advanced features like axial-flow compression and reverse-flow combustion. However, the engine's impact was limited by combustion problems that prevented it from reaching its designed power output, and by the shift in Hungarian military priorities toward licensed production of German engines. The Cs-1's legacy is thus one of pioneering innovation cut short by wartime exigencies. It remains a notable example of early turboprop engineering, though it never entered production or powered an operational aircraft. The engine's story highlights how national industrial and military decisions can shape technological trajectories, and it serves as a reminder of the many parallel paths explored during the rapid evolution of aircraft propulsion in the mid-20th century.
Did You Know?
- The Jendrassik Cs-1 was the world's first working turboprop engine.
- It was designed by Hungarian engineer György Jendrassik in 1937.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jendrassik Cs-1?
It is a turboprop aircraft engine designed in Hungary in 1937, and it holds the record as the first turboprop engine in the world to actually run.
Who designed the Jendrassik Cs-1 and what was his background?
Hungarian engineer György Jendrassik created the engine after years of experimenting with gas turbine technology.
What aircraft was the Jendrassik Cs-1 originally intended to power?
Jendrassik designed it in 1937 to serve as one of the two engines on the RMI-1, a heavy fighter project being developed by the Hungarian air force.
How did the Jendrassik Cs-1 project come to an end?
Development was halted in 1941 when the Hungarian air force selected the Messerschmitt Me 210 Ca-1 to fill the heavy fighter slot, leaving the Cs-1 without an airframe. The factory that had been building it then pivoted to other production work.
Why is the Jendrassik Cs-1 considered important despite its underwhelming performance?
Although combustion difficulties capped its output at roughly 400 bhp—well short of the 1,000 bhp target—it still earned the distinction of being the world's first turboprop engine to operate, marking a genuine milestone in aerospace engineering.
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