About Josef Papp
Lived 1933 – 1989 (aged 55–56). Josef Papp was a Hungarian and American engineer.
Josef Papp (c. 1933 – April 1989) was an American engineer who was awarded U.S. patents related to the development of an engine, and also claimed to have invented a jet submarine. He was born in Tatabánya, Hungary, and died in Daytona Beach, Florida.
History Papp was issued several U.S. patents for these inventions, including his noble gas fuel mixture.
The engine continues to be considered by many scientists as a hoax. Papp's poor physics theoretic background is demonstrated in the abstracts of the patents, which had been criticized by Richard Feynman. Feynman is said to have written an article for "LASER, Journal of the Southern Californian Skeptics" (reproduced in text form by the Museum of Hoaxes) asserting that Papp was a fraudster and the explosion an attempt by Papp to avoid discovery, although he notes that Caltech settled with Papp out of court.
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Important facts
People in Josef Papp's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Josef Papp's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Josef Papp?
Canadian engineer
When was Josef Papp born?
Josef Papp was born in 1933 in Hungary.
When did Josef Papp die?
Josef Papp died in 1989 in Daytona Beach.
What was Josef Papp's occupation?
Josef Papp was an engineer.
What nationality was Josef Papp?
Josef Papp was Hungarian and American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Josef Papp. https://biography.guide/josef-papp/
MLA: "Josef Papp." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/josef-papp/.
Chicago: "Josef Papp." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/josef-papp/.
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