How does an aircraft intake work?

Air intake (inlet) — For subsonic aircraft, the inlet is a duct which is required to ensure smooth airflow into the engine despite air approaching the inlet from directions other than straight ahead. This occurs on the ground from cross winds and in flight with aircraft pitch and yaw motions.

What is subsonic intake?

A subsonic aircraft has an inlet with a relatively thick lip. SUPERSONIC INLETS. An inlet for a supersonic aircraft, on the other hand, has a relatively sharp lip. The inlet lip is sharpened to minimize the performance losses from shock waves that occur during supersonic flight.

Why do planes have air intakes?

Aircraft intakes With the development of jet engines and the subsequent ability of aircraft to travel at supersonic speeds, it was necessary to design inlets to provide the flow required by the engine over a wide operating envelope and to provide air with a high-pressure recovery and low distortion.

Why is the inlet lip of a supersonic jet engine sharpened?

The inlet lip is sharpened to minimize the performance losses from shock waves that occur during supersonic flight. For a supersonic aircraft, the inlet must slow the flow down to subsonic speeds before the air reaches the compressor.

What is the difference between a subsonic and a supersonic aircraft?

A subsonic aircraft has an inlet with a relatively thick lip. An inlet for a supersonic aircraft, on the other hand, has a relatively sharp lip.

What are the characteristics of a good subsonic duct?

• A good subsonic duct has aircraft speed of 257.4 km/h for a good ram recovery point. 35. Supersonic Inlets • Even for supersonic flight it remains necessary that the flow leaving the inlet system be subsonic.

What is the pressure recovery • factor for supersonic intakes?

• For supersonic intakes rd = 1 – 0.75 (Ma – 1)1.35 (A rough working rule adopted by American Dept. of Defense) Which is valid when 1 < M < 5. To obtain the overall pressure recovery • factor, P P / 0a must be multiplied by the pressure recovery factor for the subsonic part of the intake. 02