Imagine seating comfortable in a plane and the Captain then announces “prepare for takeoff”. The sudden jolt of power you experience comes from well-engineered Contraptions. This miracle of man ingenuity would haul you to 30,000 feet above sea level, and you are on your way.
The Aircraft engine is the propulsion system that makes Planes achieve flight. When we board airplanes we really don’t have a clue about the kind of engine that would take us to our destination. This post will reveal Seven of the most innovative engine designs we have used in the history of flight.
Wright Brothers Taylor Engine
It all started with The Wright brothers. When the Wright brothers achieved flight in 1903, the engine that powered the plane was only 12HP. It only allowed the plane to fly for some Seconds but it ushered in a new era.
Daimler-Benz DB 605 Engine
Built during WWII, the supercharged DB 605 Engine was the power behind the Messerschmitt Bf 109. This was the plane that recorded most of the Dog fight successes of the Luftwaffe. Its direct fuel injection made it to pull negative Gs.
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Messerschmitt Bf 109
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25 Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp
This model was built with the Radial engine design. It had nine cylinders, packed about 500HP and was very reliable. It was made famous by being in the Electra Plane flown by Amelia Earhart on her ill-fated journey in 1937.
Amelia Earhart's plane was powered by R-1340 Wasp
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Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 Engine
The first Turboprop engine in the list, this very successful PT6 Engine has sold over 40,000 units. It was first built in 1961. The Turboprop is different from turbojet or Fan Engines because it drives a propeller instead. The PT6 powers the Brazilian Embraer Tucano, a plane used to fight insurgencies.
Tucano fighter plane
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CFM56 Engine
This design was a collaboration between GE and Snecma of France. It is the most produced Jet engine by the fact that the world's most produce passenger plane, the Boeing 737, is powered by it. The CFM56 a high-bypass ratio turbofan was built in the mid-seventies
Boeing 737 Classic
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Pratt & Whitney F119 Engine
Considered one of the world’s most advanced engines, the F119 is the engine powering the F-22 Raptor.
The F-22 is the world’s only fifth generation fighter jet. It delivers 35,000 pounds of thrust allowing the plane to reach supersonic speed without putting on its after burner.
Rolls-Royce Trent Engine
Also a high bye pass Turbofan, this engine has an advanced compressor and currently powers the new generation of passenger aircraft. It was designed to compete with GE’s GEnx engine. Its 900 model powers the Airbus 380 and the 1000 model powers the 787 Dreamliner.
Airbus A380
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Conclusion
Technology is pushing the envelope of air travel. Planes are becoming faster, safer and more quiet. I believe the flying experience will only get better.
Thank you for reading.
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