Unique Facts about Jet Aircraft Engines
Modern aircraft jet engine technology is also used in power plants and ships. Industrial Gas Turbines (IGTs) are aero turbine versions of aircraft jet engines, for example the General Electric CF6-80C2 used in the Boeing 747 and the Lockheed Martin C-5M Galaxy. Jet engines have a shorter lifespan than IGTs, with one aircraft flight cycle lasting 7-12 hours, whereas IGTs can operate thousands of hours a cycle.
High Price of Jet Engines
Jet engines are very expensive because they use efficient heat-resistant materials, complex engineering processes, and intensive testing. A single jet engine part can cost up to $2 million, the equivalent of six Ferraris. The total price of an entire jet engine ranges from $5 million to $50 million, depending on the size and performance of the engine.
Thousands of Parts in a Jet Engine
A jet engine consists of up to 45,000 individual parts assembled in modules. For example, a Boeing 747 aircraft engine can have more than 40,000 parts, including nearly 2,000 unique elements.
Air Use Efficiency
Only 10-20% of the air entering a jet engine is used to produce power. Modern turbofan engines have a high bypass ratio, where most of the air bypasses the engine core and contributes to the engine's total thrust.
Effect of Outside Temperature on Engine Performance
Outside temperature greatly affects jet engine performance. Commercial jet engines have limits on the maximum temperature they can reach during operation, and differences in outside temperature can significantly affect fuel consumption and engine performance.
