New propulsion system could enable jets to reach speeds up to Mach 17

New propulsion system could enable jets to reach speeds up to Mach 17 without releasing powerful shock waves that damage surroundings  The new propulsion system contains a chamber to stabilize detonation Instead of detonation traveling up or down, it is captured on a ramp This allows it to be used as a power source and not … Read more

Butterflies don’t just clap their wings, they form a ‘pocket’ that creates added jet propulsion

Scientists have long been puzzled over exactly how the butterfly moves through the air the way it does. It’s long been believed that butterflies ‘ clap’ their large wings to thrust forward, but scientists in Sweden have now determined the motion is far more complex than previously understood. Rather than just beating them, they flex … Read more

‘World’s fastest civil aircraft’ to be powered by Rolls-Royce propulsion system

Aviation giant Rolls-Royce has thrown its significant expertise behind a project hoping to build the world’s fastest civil aircraft.  Boom Supersonic is building a plane called Overture which, when completed, may be capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound, with a range of 5,180 miles. It could take passengers from London to … Read more

Scientists design a plasma-powered jet propulsion system

Scientists have developed an environmentally-friendly plasma-powered jet propulsion system that uses air and electricity to propel itself forward.  A Chinese team say their prototype can generate thrust on the same magnitude as a commercial jet engine without burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases. The device converts high pressure air into a jet of plasma … Read more