TAIL CONE MOUNTED GENERATOR INPUT SHAFT FOR AN AIRCRAFT

A jet engine includes a housing (12), an intake portion (14) leading into the housing, and an exhaust portion (16) leading from the housing. The exhaust portion includes an exhaust duct (23) and a tail cone (25) arranged radially inwardly of the exhaust duct. An engine portion (20) is arranged in the housing between the intake portion and the exhaust portion. A generator (30) is arranged in the tail cone and is operatively connected to the engine portion. A drive shaft (40) extends from the engine portion to the generator. The drive shaft includes a first end (44) coupled to the engine portion, a second end (45) connected to the generator, and an intermediate portion (47) extending therebetween. The intermediate portion includes a cooling passage (49) that extends from the second end toward a terminal end (56) that terminates short of the first end of the drive shaft.