ramjet
(ˈræmdʒɛt)
Also ram-jet, ram jet.
[f. ram v.1 + jet n.3; see also ram n.4 2.]
A simple form of jet engine in which the air used for combustion is compressed solely by the forward motion of the engine. Also attrib. and Comb.
| 1942 in 29th Ann. Rep. U.S. Nat. Advisory Comm. Aeronaut. 1943 (1948) 407/2 An experimental investigation of an idealized ram-jet propulsion system was conducted in the..wind tunnel at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in March 1941. 1945 Sci. News Let. 17 Nov. 317/3 A ramjet motor of new and unusual design. 1947 Sun (Baltimore) 3 Sept. 20/7 He had been working on the development of the supersonic ram jet engine. 1948 Times 2 Feb. 3/2 An aerial missile driven by a ‘ram-jet’ engine is reported, on its first flight over the desert at Inyokern, California, to have ‘far exceeded’ the speed of sound. 1955 Sci. Amer. Jan. 38/2 Probably the simplest helicopter built so far is the Hiller Hornet. It is powered by ramjets, mounted in the tips of the rotor blades. 1957 Jane's Fighting Ships 1957–58 439/3 The ramjet-propelled ‘Talos’ is capable of engaging both supersonic and subsonic targets. 1967 M. Chandler Ceramics in Mod. World vi. 177 The ramjet engine..is little more than a plain tube with a very high-temperature fire inside it. 1974 Encycl. Brit. Micropædia VIII. 407/2 Ramjets work best at speeds of Mach 2..and higher. 1977 Times 5 Nov. 4/5 (caption) Five turbojet engines would power it from take-off until it reached 600 mph when five ramjet engines using liquid hydrogen fuel would take over. |