Today's Jet Engines

The most popular, strongest and largest

The most popular jet engine is called the GE90-115B a high bypass turbofan engine. It was developed in 1990 from the NASA 1970's Energy Efficient Engine. It is also the largest and most powerful commercial jet engine. It has a diameter of 135 inches and generates 510 kN (115,300 lbs) of thrust at sea level. It holds the record for the most thrust generated at 569 kN (127,916 lbs!). The GE90-115B was designed specifically for the Boeing 777 and is also the most environmentally friendly engine, 33% more efficient than other high bypass turbofans.

The largest aircraft to hit the air
The Antonov An-225 Mriya is the largest aircraft to ever take flight. Developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980's the Antonov has a maximum takeoff weight of 710 tons. It requires 6 turbofan engines and has a thrust to weight ratio of 0.234 N/kg.


How Fast?

The NASA X-43 holds the record for the fastest airspeed ever recorded at Mach 9.6 which is approximately 7,310 mph. It is an unmanned aircraft that was powered by a scramjet which are engines that are built specifically for speeds above the speed of sound. Scramjets are a variation of a ramjet which ae a variation of a turbojet without any moving parts. They work by "ramming" air down  the shaft of the engine. Since they only work at high speeds they require assisted takeoff. The supersonic combustion ramjet dubbed scramjet was given its name because external combustion of the air takes place at supersonic speeds.