Pratt & Whitney J58/JT11D-20 family
The Pratt & Whitney J58, also known by the JT11D designation, is the afterburning turbojet line used in Lockheed A-12, YF-12 and SR-71 aircraft. It was designed for continuous high-Mach operation with very hot inlet air. Compressor bleed valves and six ducts route some air around the core to the afterburner region for thrust and cooling. This unusual bypass arrangement is central to the engine's high-speed operation; individual production versions and museum examples retain their own detailed ratings.
Identity
- Aliases
- J58Pratt & Whitney J58JT11D-20
- Domains
- aviation
- Identity Level
- family
- Kind
- turbojet
- Name
- Pratt & Whitney J58/JT11D-20 family
- Status
- retired
Details
- Air Breathing Specs
- Afterburning Thrust
- …
- Description
- The Pratt & Whitney J58, also known by the JT11D designation, is the afterburning turbojet line used in Lockheed A-12, YF-12 and SR-71 aircraft. It was designed for continuous high-Mach operation with very hot inlet air. Compressor bleed valves and six ducts route some air around the core to the afterburner region for thrust and cooling. This unusual bypass arrangement is central to the engine's high-speed operation; individual production versions and museum examples retain their own detailed ratings.
- Developers
- Manufacturers
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 11:13:06 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 17, 2026 at 12:30:26 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- P&W identifies twin J58 engines as the SR-71 powerplant and describes its Mach-3-class technical challenge.
- Publisher
- Pratt & Whitney
- Title
- This Day in History: SR-71 Makes First Flight
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- USAF museum identifies two J58 engines on SR-71 and its A-12/YF-12A predecessors.
- Publisher
- National Museum of the United States Air Force
- Title
- Pratt & Whitney J58 Turbojet
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- Smithsonian confirms the J58/JT11D-20 designation, afterburning thrust, eight-stage axial compressor, cannular combustor, two-stage turbine, and 2,948 kg weight.
- Publisher
- National Air and Space Museum
- Title
- Pratt & Whitney J58 (JT11D-20) Turbojet Engine
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- NASA recognizes the Pratt & Whitney J58 axial-flow turbojets in the SR-71 propulsion system.
- Publisher
- NASA
- Title
- SR-71 Blackbird Fact Sheet