The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Scaled Composites plan to conduct around late September what is described as the first-ever flight of a pulse detonation engine (PDE)-powered aircraft.

Engines that convert chemical energy from fuel into kinetic energy via explosive detonation, rather than slower deflagration combustion as seen in typical internal combustion engines. Categories ...

Tests of an advanced pulse detonation engine (PDE) design are coming closer than ever to proving the viability of the concept. Potential applications range from supersonic unmanned combat air vehicles ...

With oil priced at about $120 a barrel and ever-growing pressure to reduce aircraft emissions, the search for leaps in engine efficiency is renewing interest in novel approaches, such as wave rotor ...

There have been published papers by the Air Force Research Lab and NASA on rotating detonation engines having 10% or more efficiency gains. A rotating detonation engine (RDE) uses a form of pressure ...

Conceptual image of an oblique detonation wave engine-powered hypersonic aircraft. (Courtesy: background image: NASA; composite image: Daniel A Rosato) Scientists in the US have produced a detonation ...