At just 14 years old, a teenage prodigy created a turbojet engine from scratch at home and surprised the world of science by turning his own bedroom into the stage for an engineering feat that few people would imagine seeing at that age.

A Chinese teenager took a homemade engineering project beyond initial curiosity, with his own studies, machined parts, real tests, and evaluation by experts linked to the aeronautical sector in China.

What started with paper airplanes ended up on a workbench full of metal parts, digital simulations, and a small turbojet engine in the testing phase.

At 14, Chinese student Che Jingang gained recognition by building an experimental turbojet engine model at home, developed through his own study, digital tools, and support from people who followed the project online.

The case drew attention because it is not just a school experiment.

According to reports from the Chinese press, Che designed components, studied airflow, pressure, and temperature, oversaw the manufacturing of parts, and conducted tests with the prototype.

Still, the information needs to be treated with caution: there is no confirmation that the engine achieved self-sustaining operation in the initial tests that were released.

A native of Hainan province, Che appears in the reports as a teenager interested in flight from a very young age.

The curiosity began simply, by observing paper airplanes, and progressed to projects in electronics, programming, model aircraft, and then to a more ambitious attempt: building a homemade turbojet.

Chinese teenager went from paper airplanes to a turbojet

Che’s story is noteworthy because it shows a learning sequence that is uncommon for someone his age.

Before getting to the turbojet, the student had already been involved in small technical projects, such as cars with ultrasonic radar, robotic arms, rockets, and model aircraft.

These experiences helped the teenager deal with practical engineering problems, such as assembly, weight, material strength, and component operation.

Gradually, what was just curiosity began to require planning, calculation, and testing.

In the case of the turbojet, Che decided not to just reproduce a ready-made project found on the internet.

In an interview published by the Chinese press, he stated that copying available designs would not allow him to truly understand how the engine works.

Therefore, he began to develop parts of the project, design components, and simulate the system’s behavior before assembly.

The Internet played a central role in technical learning

A large part of Che’s journey was directly related to his access to digital content.

The student used videos, forums, publishing platforms, and online tools to study subjects that normally appear in technical courses, universities, or professional environments.

Among the subjects mentioned in the reports are calculus, aerodynamics, technical drawing, and 3D modeling.

Tools like CAD and SolidWorks also appear, used to turn ideas into detailed designs before the parts are manufactured.

This point helps explain why the case gained so much attention.

The project was not born in a large laboratory, but in a home environment connected to a network of information, tutorials, and people interested in engineering.

The internet served as a source of study, a showcase for the experiment, and a bridge for receiving suggestions.

Homemade turbojet went from screen to metal

The digital stage was just the beginning.

After designing the components, Che needed to turn files into physical parts.

According to the reports, the process involved 3D printing, cutting, CNC machining, and working with sheet metal.

It was at this stage that the teenager encountered one of the biggest limitations of the homemade project.

Some parts required high precision and expensive equipment.

One of the compressor components, for example, depended on specialized machining, which made it difficult to manufacture using only domestic resources.

The release of the videos ended up connecting Che with people who could help.

According to the Chinese press, a professional got in touch to support the production of parts, allowing the project to advance at a stage that could have halted the assembly.

The family also appears as an important part of this process.

The student’s home was described as a space with tools, models, 3D printers and parts under development.

His parents’ support allowed Che to maintain a routine of studying, recording, testing, and making adjustments.

First test showed the limits of the experimental engine

The most anticipated moment was seeing the turbojet in operation.

In the first test released, the prototype managed to spin with external support, there was ignition and a flame outlet, but the engine did not keep running on its own.

In engines of this type, self-sustaining operation occurs when the system can maintain the cycle without depending on external force to keep spinning.

According to the available information, this stage had not yet been reached in the first test.

After the test, Che pointed out possible causes for the result.

Among them were problems with the fuel system, combustion, and the relationship between the compressor and the air intake.

The student also indicated that the project would undergo adjustments before new attempts.

This point is central to understanding the story without exaggeration.

The case does not confirm the construction of a ready-to-use aeronautical engine, but it does document the creation of an experimental turbojet prototype, with identified flaws and improvement stages underway.

Experts evaluated the prototype in China

The repercussion led Che to an institution linked to the Chinese aeronautical sector.

On April 25 and 26, 2026, he visited the Hunan Power Machinery Research Institute, affiliated with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

According to the state agency Xinhua, the teenager took the handmade turbojet for evaluation, a blow-through test, and discussion of improvements with experts.

Technicians praised the student’s interest, practical ability, and accumulated knowledge, as reported.

This evaluation, however, does not mean certification of the engine.

What the sources confirm is that the prototype was analyzed by experts and received guidance for improvement.

There is no reliable indication that the equipment is ready for any real aeronautical application.

The difference is important.

Che’s project stands out as a technical and educational experience, but it remains a model under development, linked to bench tests, learning, and successive adjustments.

Online community helped boost the experiment

The videos published by Che also influenced the project’s progress.

By showing the construction stages, the student received comments, suggestions, and support from people interested in the topic.

This type of interaction helped to identify possible flaws, discuss alternatives, and locate technical support for manufacturing components.

In his case, the online community was not just an audience, but part of the learning environment.

At the same time, projects of this type require care.

Experimental engines involve combustion, high-speed rotating parts, intense heat, and mechanical risks.

Therefore, any similar attempt requires supervision, adequate equipment, and safety criteria.

Che Jingang went viral for combining curiosity, technology, and engineering

Che’s journey brings together elements that spark curiosity: a teenager, a home workshop, digital tools, metal parts, internet videos, and a prototype related to the world of aviation.

This combination explains the case’s impact, especially among people interested in technology, science, and engineering.

There is also a generational aspect.

Modeling software, 3D printers, technical videos, and online communities allow young people to access knowledge previously restricted to specialized environments.

In Che’s project, these resources appear as part of the path between the initial idea and the assembly of the experimental engine.

Still, the coverage needs to separate what has been confirmed from what has not.

Che built an experimental turbojet model, conducted tests, received external support, and took the equipment to specialists.