NationStates Jolt Archive


Technological breakthrough in aircraft propulsion

Aztec Lands
04-01-2005, 00:53
NOTE: This is modern-tech

Mayapan Labs has made a breakthrough in engine design. Straight out of something like Star Wars, they have apparently created a fully functional ion engine. However, it is far too huge, requiring an entire nuclear reactor to create a force of an insignificant amount, not even enough to power a gider.

The Aztec Air Industries AAI-301 jet engine, which powers the nation's C-5 light fighter, makes approximately 100 kilonewtons of thrust. By contrast, the ion engine produced by Mayapan Labs doesn't even produce as much force as the force of standard air pressure, not even a fraction of it. Jet propulsion will still be the way to go for centuries to come.

However, it is a breakthrough. Scientists are currently refining the mathematical formulas involved and going through the design to see if any more thrust can be summoned up. Exactly how it works has not been revealed.