Hans von Ohain

This is the first book ever to chronicle the life and work of Dr. Hans von Ohain, the brilliant physicist who invented the first turbojet engine that flew on 27 August 1939. The book follows him from childhood through his education, the first turbojet development, and his work at the Heinkel Company, where his dream of “elegance in flight” was ultimately realized with the flight of the Heinkel He 178, powered by the turbojet engine he created. It also presents his immigration to the United States and his career with the United States Air Force, whereupon he became one of the top scientists in the field of advanced propulsion.

The book is a historical document, but it is also evidence of a man’s dream coming true in the creation of “elegance in flight,” and its impact on mankind.