3 Things You Didn’t Know About the Aircraft Engine
With a power equivalent to that of a 28 Formula-1 racing car, the aircraft engine parts is a major powerhouse responsible for carrying an aircraft into flight. Engines designed for aircraft use- be they for commercial, jet, private or others- have made it possible for people to travel across thousands of miles in just under a day.
Within these technological miracles is a complex system of parts that require only the most knowledgeable and certified engineers and mechanics to tend to them. As complex as these mechanical giants can be, they remain a marvel to the average citizen. Below you can find some interesting facts about engines that you may not have known about.
Scorching Temps
Did you know that the
aircraft engine can reach temperatures of about 1400 degrees Celsius (2552 degrees Fahrenheit)? The temperature change that occurs within the engine is part of a 4-segment process that includes intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust. The first segment consists of the engine suctioning air from the outside, followed by that same air being compressed within the engine.
During these two parts, the engine is very cool but it's in the 3rd and 4th segment that the engine starts to heat up. Compressed air mixed with fuel is ignited in the combustion chamber resulting in the final phase, exhaust.
Expensive
The cost of aircraft engines is highly dependent on what type of engine is purchased. Additionally the price also depends on the
type of aircraft engine was designed for. Some aircraft will come equipped with the engine along with a separate package engine deal, so the cost can sometimes be difficult to determine without including the cost for the aircraft itself. However, on average, an aircraft engine can cost anything from 12 million to 35 million dollars.
Life Cycles
Did you know that the life and duration of an aircraft engine is measured through “flight cycles”? One cycle consists of one take-off and one landing that an aircraft completes on a trip. So the engine cycle for a one-way flight from Amsterdam to New York would be 1 cycle. The round trip would be two cycles and a total of 16 flight hours.
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mark watkins
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Posted on February 11, 2020
aerospace news