Current Aero Engine Types

Abstract

Propulsion within a fluid environment is generally achieved by the thrust created as a reaction to the rearward acceleration of a fluid jet. Fluid acceleration can arise either by driving a system of rotating vanes, or by releasing heat directly into the fluid flow within a duct coupled with change in cross-sectional area along the axis of the duct. The former method is employed with the combination of aero piston engine and propeller, and the latter with the various types of ramjet and rocket engine. Turbopropeller, turbofan and turbojet engines, in that order, represent gradation from the former to the latter method. Although a claim for being ‘first’ with any development in aeronautics can lead to controversy, since it depends largely on the definitions of ‘flight’ (height reached, distance covered, time airborne, speed attained etc.), the following years mark notable early uses of the different aero propulsion engine types:

1232	Rockets, Kai Feng, China
1903	Piston engine in Wright Flyer, U.S.A.
1939	Turbojet (von Ohain) in Heinkel He 178, Germany
1942	Pulsejet (Schmidt-Argus) in V1 weapon, Germany
1945	Turboprop (Derwent 2) in converted Gloster Meteor, U.K.
1947	Ramjet (Leduc 0–10), France