ramjets
High-speed aircraft engines
Ramjets are jet engines that use forward motion to compress incoming air rather than mechanical compressors.
They're simpler and lighter than turbojets but can't operate from a standstill—the aircraft must already be moving fast enough to force air into the engine.
Ramjets power some missiles and experimental high-speed aircraft: The missile's ramjet kicks in after the booster gets it up to speed.
Exothermic reaction with oxygen
- inletWater extending into land
- nozzleFlow-directing pipe fitting
- diffuserDevice that scatters evenly
- afterburnerExhaust-stream fuel injector
fuel injection · ignition · compression · stagnation · exhaust · thrust · intake · burner
Exceeding audio velocity
- hypersonicFaster than Mach five
- transonicNear sound-speed velocity
- Mach numberRatio to sonic velocity
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
boundary layer · compressibility · fluid dynamics · drag · pressure · turbulence
Rate velocity changes
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- Mach 2Twice acoustic velocity
- supersonic flightAviation exceeding sound speed
- hypersonic flightTravel above Mach five
high-speed · sonic boom · fast · rapid · terminal velocity · kinetic energy · momentum
Self-guided airborne weapon
- cruise missileSelf-propelled flying weapon
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- TalosMythic bronze automaton
- NavahoAthabaskan people of Arizona
interceptor · surface-to-air · unmanned · expendable · launch vehicle
Fourth decade, twentieth century
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
- experimentalTesting new methods
- test flightExperimental aircraft evaluation
- aviation pioneerEarly aircraft innovator
combustion
Exothermic reaction with oxygen
afterburner · fuel injection · ignition · compression · stagnation · exhaust · thrust · intake · burner · combustor
supersonic
Exceeding audio velocity
- hypersonicFaster than Mach five
- transonicNear sound-speed velocity
- Mach numberRatio to sonic velocity
shockwave · boundary layer · compressibility · fluid dynamics · drag · pressure · turbulence
acceleration
Rate velocity changes
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- Mach 2Twice acoustic velocity
- supersonic flightAviation exceeding sound speed
hypersonic flight · high-speed · sonic boom · fast · rapid · terminal velocity · kinetic energy · momentum
missile
Self-guided airborne weapon
- cruise missileSelf-propelled flying weapon
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- TalosMythic bronze automaton
Navaho · interceptor · surface-to-air · unmanned · expendable · launch vehicle
1940s
Fourth decade, twentieth century
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
- experimentalTesting new methods
- test flightExperimental aircraft evaluation
ramjetsrocket engines
Propulsion systems for spacecraft
rockets · turbojets · turbofans · piston engines · rocket motors