The Jet Engine Quiz

The many pounds of thrust produced by a jet engine are what propels the aircraft forward.

The Wright Brothers used an aluminum piston engine in the first plane that they built.

The record was set by a car called the ThrustSSC back in 1997.

They are also called combustion turbine engines, and their invention heralded a fast and efficient mode of transportation

Turboshaft engines apply power to a shaft, which can then be used to spin a helicopter's rotor.

This kind of jet engine can't start from a dead stop, it must "ram" air into the engine, which works best at supersonic speeds.

The United States used Whittle's design for its first jet fighters in World War II.

WWII sparked high-speed evolution in terms of jet aircraft as hostile countries researched ways to gain air superiority.

You will recall that the third law of motion stipulates that every action is met with an equal and opposite reaction.

It was the Messerschmitt Me 262, which downed hundreds of Allied targets during World War II.

It was first produced with a piston engine but graduated to a jet engine in 1942.

This way, the turbines can spin at their optimum speed regardless of the engine's other fans.

The fuel and air mixture becomes ignitable, which then provides the tremendous thrust the engine needs to move the plane.

These are the earliest and simplest type of jet engines.

These gases have high speed or temperature that provides thrust to the machine.

It blends some of the ultra-hot exhaust gases with cooler air that bypasses the turbine in order to make the engine (a little) quieter.

It's why some planes ascend to such high altitudes during cross-country flights.

Afterburners are common on military jets to provide more thrust, helping pilots to attack and evade; they also allow for faster takeoffs.

This boost can shorten the space needed for takeoffs … or just provide more fun for the pilot.

The turbine is connected to the front-mounted propeller, spinning the prop to increase air intake.

These supersonic combusting ramjets feature supersonic airflow throughout the length of the engine, allowing for incredible speeds.

During certification processes, this engine set a world record for thrust power.

And it did so for 60 hours, just to see how the engineers could push their creation.

Huge jet power does not come cheap; the engine can produce about 111,000 horsepower.

Some of this series was still active in the force until the 1980s.

The superior efficiency of these engines helps airlines maximize efficiency and save on fuel and overall flight expenses.

The very hot air and high pressure drives the turbine and provides the thrust necessary for high-speed flight.

It's the engine found on the F-35 Lightning II fighter, which can fly around 1,200 mph.

This configuration also cools the engine and does provide a bit more thrust.

More than 7,000 have been manufactured and millions of flight hours logged, making it both advanced and reliable.