Walters M701 Turbojet Engine
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Walter Motorlet M701 Turbojet Engine
The design is relatively simple which makes the engine extremely reliable. One radial compressor layout of the engine showes very low sensitivity to sucked-in objects and so the engine is able to operate on grassy auxiliary airfields for all its life time. M701 production started in 1960. In 1992 the production was stopped. WALTER a.s still provides full support to M701 customers.

The only arcraft powered by M701 was L-29 military trainer.

Engine thrust (rated) 8.7 kN (1962 lbf) at 14900 rpm

Number of compressor stages: 1 (radial)

Pressure ratio: 4,34

Specific fuel consumption: 104,8 kg/kN/hr

Number of turbine stages: 1 (radial)

Engine dry mass: 335 kg

Total production: More then 4500 pcs.

Resurs: up to 500 hours (depending on version)

M701 Cutaway
In this cutaway view of the turbojet engine you can easily see the single stage centrifugal compressor at the forward third of the engine. Also evident is the single stage turbine at the aft end of the engine. As you can see this early M701 jet engine does not incorporate a bypass fan. This is the primary reason for the high fuel consumption of roughly 1000lbs./Hr producing 2000lbs of thrust. Later designs of jet engines would incorporate a fan (turbofan engine) making the engine nearly twice as efficient. A general rule of thumb for flight planning fuel in the L-29 under 10,000 MSL is an amazing "ONE GALLON OF JET-A FOR EACH MILE TRAVELED"
L 29 Delfin (Dolphin)
As a winner of comparative tests (other competitors were Soviet Jak-30 and Polish TS-11 Iskra) L-29 became a standard military trainer of Warsaw treaty countries in 1961 (the only exemption was Poland using TS-11).

First flight with M701: July 1960.

Total production reached almost 4000 pieces, some of them are still in service in Czech Republic, Egypt, and other countries. S/H aircraft are flown by private pilots in many countries incl. USA.
M701 Removed
This photo gives perspective to the actual dimensions of the M701. Note the large combustion cans. Engine dry weight is 739lbs.