Types of Aircraft Engines

Piston Engine

Pistons directly drive a propeller and can do so without needing a complex turbine. This allows for simpler and more economical engines, although with limited power. Therefore, they work very well in light aircraft and small planes where high speeds are not required.

Turboprop

A turbine generates power, but most of it is used to drive a large propeller. At moderate speeds, moving a large amount of air in this way requires less fuel than expelling it at high speed. This is why it is common in regional and cargo aircraft that fly short or medium-haul routes.

Turboshaft Engine

Virtually all the useful power is directed to a shaft, instead of using the exhaust gases to directly propel the aircraft. This allows it to deliver a lot of power without needing an excessively heavy engine. This is precisely what a helicopter needs to drive its large rotors.

Turbojet Engine

Here, almost all the thrust comes from the exhaust gases expelled from the rear. It works especially well when the aircraft reaches high speeds, but it consumes a significant amount of fuel at lower speeds. This is why it has lost ground in commercial aircraft, although it remains useful in some high-speed military aircraft.

Turbofan

In addition to the turbine, it has a huge fan that moves a large volume of air around the engine. Moving a large volume of air at a lower speed is more efficient and quieter than expelling a small volume extremely quickly. This is why it is the characteristic engine of today's large commercial aircraft.

Electric Motor

Electricity directly creates the engine's rotation, without combustion, turbines, or an exhaust system. This reduces moving parts, noise, and maintenance, but the batteries needed to store a large amount of energy are still quite heavy. Therefore, it makes more sense today in drones and small aircraft with limited ranges.