Jet Engine

A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast-moving jet of heated gas, usually air, to generate thrust through jet propulsion. The term most often refers to an internal combustion air-breathing jet engine such as a turbojet, turbofan, ramjet, pulse jet or scramjet. Most air-breathing jet engines use a rotating air compressor powered by a turbine, with leftover power providing thrust through a propelling nozzle in what is known as the Brayton thermodynamic cycle. Jet engine thrust and reliability improved dramatically over the twentieth century, with a typical jetliner engine thrust rising from about 5,000 pounds-force in the 1950s to 115,000 pounds-force by the 1990s, alongside far lower fuel consumption and in-flight shutdown rates.