Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Stewart
What are those? |
From another site ...
Turbojet and turbofan engines cannot effectively use supersonic air. The front blades on the compressors set up shockwaves and the engines compressor stall or flameout.
The air coming in the intake has to be slowed to subsonic speed for the engines to use it effectively.
The devices on the F-4's were variable inlet doors or ramps.
They would move the supersonic shockwave far enough out front of the intakes.
They would also slow the air to subsonic speed.
If you ever heard that high pitched whistling noise on an F-4 or any supersonic capable aircraft in the landing pattern,it's the variable inlet doors moving to disrupt the airflow for the engines to use the air more effectively.(It's the air molecules screaming in pain -- LOL)