We use the word “thrust” for the force that drives the airplane forward against air resistance. Because the word applies equally to all kinds of propulsion, comparisons of the properties of jets and props may include some statement to the effect that props produce their thrust by accelerating a mass of air backward.
Why Jets Fly High and Fast
Peter Garrison explains how jets produce thrust and recips produce torque.
Key Takeaways:
- Jet engines generate thrust internally by expelling heated air and become more efficient at higher altitudes and speeds, unlike propellers which produce thrust by accelerating surrounding air and become less efficient under these conditions.
- Simulations demonstrate that a flat-nosed body with a *rounded front edge* can surprisingly have significantly less drag than a traditionally streamlined, bullet-shaped nose.
- Achieving low drag at subsonic speeds is primarily dependent on having a gently tapering tail rather than a long, pointed nose.
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