An
afterburner is an extension of a
jet engine, used in
military aircraft. It injects
fuel into the heated exhaust pipe of the engine. It will react with uncombined
oxygen in the exhaust, which increases the exhaust temperature and, thus, its velocity, giving the plane additional thrust.
Afterburners use more fuel than the normal turbine, so they are used only when launching the airplane from the ground or an aircraft carrier, or when high speed is of the essence.
The only civilian aircraft using afterburners is the Concorde.
- See also : ramjet
Afterburner is also an
album by
ZZ Top. See
Afterburner (album).