Peter A. Stranges, an aeronautical engineer who was instrumental in developing the jet engine, died Monday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center of complications from colon cancer. He was 83.

Mr. Stranges was commissioned as a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy in 1943 and was sent to the California Institute of Technology, where he helped develop the engine. With four other Naval officers, he also conducted successful flight tests of the military's Banshee jet off the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt aircraft carrier.

During his career as a Naval officer, Mr. Stranges also directed the development of the afterburner for the U.S. military. Afterburners are now installed in all military fighter aircraft to augment their performance at takeoff, while climbing and during combat.

A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Stranges was one of eight brothers and sisters. After attending Germantown Academy in Philadelphia, he graduated in 1941 from the University of Rochester in New York with a degree in mechanical engineering. While at Rochester, he was considered a talented athlete and excelled in both football and baseball.

After graduating from college, he spent two years working for General Motors Corp. in Rochester. During that time, he also served as assistant freshman football coach at the university.

Mr. Stranges earned a master's degree in engineering from Yale University in 1950, and a year later he helped the Air Force evaluate the ability of the then-Soviet Union to develop propulsion systems for aircraft and missiles.

He later joined the private sector and worked at United Technologies Corp. for 23 years, focusing on propulsion system technology. He retired from there in 1986, and then ran his own engineering consulting firm until 1992.

In 1994, he was inducted into the University of Rochester Hall of Fame for his athletic and professional accomplishments.

Mr. Stranges balanced his demanding professional obligations with a love for the outdoors and athletics.

"He was an avid gardener," said his wife of 56 years, the former Irene Gaske. "He loved holly trees. They were his pet project."

He spent much of his leisure time in his garden and, until the age of 62, was a competitive handball player.

The couple lived in Owings Mills and in Ruxton before moving to Blakehurst Life Care Community in Towson several years ago. Mr. Stranges also was a member of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Towson.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, 6500 York Road. Interment will be in Druid Ridge Cemetery.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Lynn Slawson of Towson and Deborah Stranges of Stallings, N.C., and four grandchildren.