Back in the 90's, founder of Geomagnet, Inc., James Scott was given an old small turbocharger by a friend who had a simple question. “What can you do with this?” After thinking about it for a couple of minutes James recognized the turbine geometry and replied, “It looks like it would make a good jet engine.”

So the challenge began. James started researching books on thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. After about 8 month of struggling with complex formulas and theory it was apparent that the average person (including himself) would never make much sense of the information so he extrapolated and generalized the differential calculus equations into simple algebraic math. He then used those formulas to design and build his first working jet engine. “Surprisingly, it fired up on the first attempt”, James recalled.

After proudly demonstrating his contraption to a few that were attracted by the distinct sound of a jet engine, one individual returned with a large turbocharger from of a semi-tractor truck. He asked if he could turn it into a jet engine. Again, using the math as design criteria from the first engine, James constructed a second engine.

James remarked, “I remember firing the engine up in front of an audience of engineers and potential investors. The fuel injector got fouled up and began dumping fuel into the combustion chamber. The engine spooled up to about 80,000 rpm. Flames were shooting 5 feet out of the back. The ground and building were shaking. You could feel your ears pop from the local air pressure drop. It was completely out of control. I turned to run for cover behind a break press. Fortunately, nothing catastrophic occurred and the engine settled down once the excess fuel burned off. Then I noticed my audience timidly emerge from behind a dumpster.” One of the engineers verbally estimated that the engine was producing upwards around 500 horsepower. Further development was halted after James had a dispute with his partner who had gotten greedy. So James walked away from the project.

Several weeks later, James gathered up his notes and wrote “MicroJet – introduction to jet propulsion” and was selling them from an ad in Popular Mechanics as well as online. It was modestly successful with a few dozen sales monthly. “It was truly exciting times for me. I was getting correspondence from all over the world. Even the grandson of Sir Frank Whittle sent me an e-mail.” said James.

But all that excitement came to an end. James received a letter from an officer in the U.S. Navy who very kindly but persuasively requested that James stop distributing the information as it was vaguely similar to the technology used for cruise missiles. “That was enough for me. Last thing I needed on my conscience was the guilt of someone using this information to cause others harm...especially against our own soldiers and citizens”, James regretted. James mothballed the booklet until now.

“Since my last involvement with jet engines, there has emerged dozens of websites related to amateur and hobby jet engine builders. Even small high performance engines are available. Plans, CAD files, formulas, calculators, and parts are readily accessible. I assume some degree of declassification has occurred otherwise these guys would have gotten a notice to cease and desist by now.” James justified.

As of now the rehashed “MicroJet – Introduction to Jet Propulsion” is available for download for $19.95