Lecture 2D: A History of Propulsion

Hopefully, now, you understand how we can make an aircraft fly! In the past lectures, you have learned about the various forces working on an aircraft, and the importance of the thrust force generated by the engines. Therefore, one of the most important components of an aircraft is the propulsion system; the engines that propel the aircraft, but also emit the dreaded greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

Dr. Gangoli Rao will spend the next few lectures talking about the history and progress of propulsion systems, the aircraft they have enabled, and the basics of aircraft propulsion. This will give you a better idea of how aviation propulsion systems work, the progress that has been made in their design, and the advances that are still being made.