Leret Ruiz, Virgilio (1902 - 1936)

Spanish engineer and military aviator.

Virgilio Leret Ruiz was a Spanish military, engineer and inventor that can be considered one of the pioneers of jet engines.
While he was imprisoned in the castle of El Hacho (Huelva), he conceived a new method of propulsion: the "Continuous Reaction Mototurbocompresor." It consisted of a device that used the hot exhaust gas of a turbine for propulsion. This system exceeded the physical limitations of piston engines and propellers at high speed. On May 28, 1935, he registered his invention in the Registry of Industrial Property of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the 2nd of July of that year the patent was granted. The memory consisted of more than 100 sheets. This project of the jet was contemporary with the English Frank Whittle and the German Hans von O'Hain. Unfortunately, Virgilio Leret was shot by soldiers of Franco on the 17th of July of 1936, so he could not build his invention.
Recently, in the year 2001, the project was studied in the Spanish "Service of Aviation History and Culture", ruling its viability and stating that it would provide a thrust of 500 kg, the same magnitude order as the Whittle and O'Hain engines.

variant spelling:
Leret Ruiz, Virgilio

Curriculum vitae

* 23.08.1902	Pamplona, Spain	born
1924 - 1929	Spain	He studied a Degree on mechanical and electrical engineering in the International Electronic Institution, with registered office in Barcelona.
28.03.1935	Madrid, Spain	His jet engine invention was patented.
† 18.07.1936	Melilla, Spain	died

Collections

Rationalisation, ca. 1920-1950

Permanent links

DMG-Lib		https://www.dmg-lib.org/dmglib/handler?biogr=6659004
Europeana		http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2020801/dmglib_handler_biogr_6659004.html

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Leret Ruiz, Virgilio (1902 - 1936)