ABSTRACT
In the previous four chapters four broad categories of aeroengines were discussed. The powered vehicles have flight speeds ranging from low subsonic speeds, as in the case of helicopters, up to moderate supersonic speeds. Supersonic vehicles are mainly military airplanes and the limited number of supersonic transports (SSTs), such as the Concorde (retired on November 26, 2003) and Tu-144 airplanes. Passengers become bored by the long time of trips, say across the Atlantic, or in general during flights having more than 5–7 flight hours. Extensive efforts are given these days to satisfy passengers’ needs. It is expected in the forthcoming decades that airplanes will satisfy the increasing demand for more comfortable and faster flights. This chapter will concentrate on engines that power such airplanes or airspace planes that will fly at high supersonic and hypersonic flight speeds (Mach 5 and above). The corresponding flight altitudes in such circumstances will be much higher than today’s subsonic/transonic civil airliners, for some technical reasons which will be discussed later.
