The authors point out that the turbo-jet power plant makes possible aircraft performance in terms of speed not attainable with other power plants now in use and point to the possibility of applying this new power plant to commercial transports.
A brief statement of the general problem of aircraft propulsion is given with mention of airplane design requirements for high speed flight.
A contemporary turbo-jet engine of the Whittle type is described and special attention is paid in pointing out both the service problems and those features which lead to operating economy.
The problem of application of a turbo-jet engine to aircraft is touched on together with operating and flight problems.
The performance of a hypothetical aircraft is given which has a cruising speed of 500 miles per hour at 35,000 feet and has a useful range of 750 miles. Mention is made of a few of the limitations and concessions which must be made before operation of such an aircraft becomes practical.
The high speed of the proposed aircraft, leading to a higher utilization, makes possible a new economy in air transportation, and the authors conclude with a plea to airlines to initiate procurement of experimental turbo-jet powered aircraft now so that the operating problems can be worked out before the next cycle of procurement.
