Early flight tests of the first General Electric turbojet engine, the Type I-A, clearly showed the need for more powerful engines. GE followed with two designs of increased thrust. The second, known as the J31, initially referred to as the I-16, had 7,117 N (1,600 lb) of thrust and first ran in April 1943. GE built about 250 of these versions, mainly for the Bell YP-59 and P-59A and B jet aircraft.
The I-16-5 model was built for the Army Air Forces. It was an improved design derived from the I-16A1 and I-16A3 that incorporated changes to obtain better cooling for the rear bearing for improved performance at high altitude. It also had larger turbine wheel cooling air vanes, a new cooling air manifold assembly, and a flange welded wheel and shaft construction.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.