6k views

Given the same engine, why install a gearbox on a turboprop but not on a turbofan?

I am reading the book Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, by Hill and Peterson. I found out this image while reading the chapter 5, "Thermodynamics of Aircraft Engines": Why would there be a ...
20k views

Why do turbofan blade tips exceed the speed of sound while prop tips should not?

It seems that the tips of the fan of a turbofan engine can and do break the sound barrier: The GE-90 has a fan diameter of 3124 mm and a rotational speed of 3475 RPM. Their circumferential velocity ...
5k views

For an electric airplane are propellers the only option for propulsion?

This is for an electric airplane (so no fuels for combustion): Are propellers the only option? Is there a turbine-jet possible with only air intake, electrically compress, and a turbine and nozzle ...
3k views

How is the D8 Double Bubble aircraft by NASA so efficient?

How does the 'double bubble' fuselage cross-section of the "Double Bubble D8" aircraft (developed by MIT for NASA) help improve overall efficiency by around 70%? Image credit: NASA/MIT/Aurora Flight ...
14k views

Do helicopter rotor tips regularly go supersonic?

In my question about helicopter noise, I made the assumption that one reason they are so darn noisy is that the main rotor tips go faster than the speed of sound. @FreeMan questioned whether that was ...
8k views

What is the “area rule”?

The "area rule" states that the supersonic drag on an aircraft is related to the total area on part of the aircraft. What is the exact definition of the rule? Why does this happen?
3k views

Why are the top speeds for jet engines higher than for propellers?

I realize turbines are more efficient than piston engines, but if that were true, then why don't turbo-props reach jet speeds?
1k views

Is 1 propeller always more efficient than 2?

Based on other answers I've read here (1) (2) (3), a single large blade propeller is the most efficient type of thrust you can get. There are 2 reasons for this (as I understand it). Firstly, ...
3k views

How does blade solidity ratio relate to thrust/power/torque of a propeller?

for quite some time I was using ABBOTT formula for static thrust estimation on a two-bladed propellers: $$T=6.8\times10^{-5}\times D^{3}\times p\times RPM^{2}$$ $T$ is Static Thrust (N); $D$ is ...