By Robert Espey

A ramjet is a jet engine that relies on forward momentum to create pressure instead of a moving piston or fan Requires forward motion to produce thrust Uses continuous combustion

Incoming air is slowed to subsonic by cone Slowed air creates pressure needed for combustion Fuel injected into pressurized air Flame ignites mixture Air expands and flows through nozzle Exhaust generates forward thrust

Must be at least Mach1 before operating

The thrust produced is based on pressure differentials at different sides of the plane Limited by excessive temperatures and pressures at higher speeds and low pressure differentials at low speeds

No moving parts Higher efficiencies Speeds limited only by temperatures and pressures engine can handle
VS.

Schematic of a Ramjet

Schematic of a Scramjet (air remains supersonic)

Low Fuel Efficiency

Caused by low compression ratios
High speed creates drag

Only operates at speeds above Mach1

Ramjets and Scramjets have been used in missiles, helicopters, and the SR71 Blackbird with varying degrees of success.

The United States funded a nuclear scramjet project for missiles called Project Pluto
Realized that ICBMs did the job better and that low flying

radioactive reactors werent the best idea

Ramjet Engines. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://www.aardvark.co.nz/pjet/ramjets.htm> The Ramjet/Scramjet Engine. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/ramjet.htm>

Here Comes the Flying Stovepipe. Time Magazine. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,834721 -1,00.html> Ramjet. Wikipedia. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramjet>