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A jet is able to take flight because its engines draw in air that is combined with fuel to produce heated exhaust that moves the plane forward. As the jet moves, air travels quickly over the top of a wing and slowly under the bottom, providing lift. A plane is able to fly because its wing shape creates a higher pressure below the wing, as explained by the Bernoulli Principle. Most planes use an engine that moves air more quickly over the airfoil to create these pressure differentials. A jet engine provides thrust by drawing in air through the front of the engine with a fan, compressing it and then igniting the air with fuel that is injected into the engine. The resultant exhaust propels the plane forward. The first jet engine was a turbojet, which uses a compressor to draw in air for combustion. Turboprops and turbofans both add a rotating device, with the turboprop using a jet to power a propeller. Prop-based engines that use internal combustion as cars do are popular in smaller aircraft because they consume less fuel. Jet engines remain popular because they can provide more power at higher altitudes and for larger cargoes. Ramjets are the simplest type of jet engines because they include neither a compressor nor a fan. The speed of the aircraft forces air into the engine, and engineers are working to develop high-speed aircraft using these powerplants.Flight Principles
Jet Engine
Types of Jet Engines
Other Aircraft Powerplants
Future
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