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Power Plants for High–Speed Aircraft*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

A. D. Baxter
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Extract

A few years ago when high–speed aircraft were mentioned, speeds of 300 to 400 m.p.h. came to mind. The advent of jet propulsion has made those figures 100 per cent, out of date and today speeds are discussed more and more in terms of Mach number; for example, high–speed subsonic aircraft fly at Mach numbers of 0.85 to 0.90, aircraft are flying in the transonic region and supersonic guided missiles are proposed for speeds anywhere between M=1.5 and 2.5, i.e. ground level speeds up to 2,000 m.p.h.

It is proposed to review very broadly the suitability of propulsion units for these transonic and supersonic applications. What is the difference between ordinary power plants and those for high speed? The answer might be contained in another question—why are supersonic aircraft different from conventional types? The aerodynamicist will give an involved explanation concerned with compressibility, drag rise, shock waves, and so on.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 55 , Issue 490 , October 1951 , pp. 642 - 650
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1951

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Footnotes

*

A paper read before the Chester Branch of the Society on 17th January 1951.

References

Note on page 644 * The Relative Merits of Centrifugal and Axial Compressors for Aircraft Gas Turbines. E. S. MOULT and H. PEARSON. Journal of The Royal Aeronautical Society, March 1951.