Modern Air Breathing

Engines
Ramjet Engine
• Jet engine using the engine’s
forward motion to admit and
compress incoming air, without
a rotary compressor.

• Static Thrust =0.

Ramjets cannot produce thrust
at zero airspeed and thus cannot
move an aircraft from a
standstill.

• Ramjets offer the highest (fuel)

specific impulse at flight Mach
numbers above ∼4
 Ramjets require ram
compression.
is, some forward flight
Stagnation enthalpy speed, before these simple
airbreathing engines (or
Static Temperature
“ducts with burners”) can
produce thrust.

The same engines (i.e.,

ramjets) cease to produce
Static Pressure thrust at very high ram
compressions!

Stagnation Pressure

Mach Number