Re:One of the earliest science fiction books was written by ...
by WalterBright on Tuesday July 21, 2020 @05:36PM
(#23911260)
More accurately, the turbo-jet engine was invented in the 1930's (independently by Ohain and Whittle). The turbo-jet has a compressor stage driven by a turbine in the exhaust stream.
Prior jet engines were rocket engines, which go back to the ancient Chinese.
A ram-jet eliminates the turbine entirely, relying on aerodynamic forces to provide the compression. Of course, the engine needs to be moving very fast for this to work.
Fun fact: Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory was named "jet" instead of "rocket" out of concern that the neighbors would be afraid of rockets. Of course, rocket engines were what they were developing, not turbo-jets.
Prior jet engines were rocket engines, which go back to the ancient Chinese.
A ram-jet eliminates the turbine entirely, relying on aerodynamic forces to provide the compression. Of course, the engine needs to be moving very fast for this to work.
Fun fact: Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory was named "jet" instead of "rocket" out of concern that the neighbors would be afraid of rockets. Of course, rocket engines were what they were developing, not turbo-jets.