If you have ever seen a jet engine up close, your first thought might be, “This thing could suck a small car at once or maybe all the birds in the air!” Your second thought might be to find a solution.
“Why don’t they just put a cage over each engine to stop things from getting sucked in? This proposed solution seems logical; after all, we usually put grates over our drains and guards over our fans. However, things are much different when it comes to jet engines. Placing a cage on them is a dangerous idea. Keep reading to discover why you do not put a cage on jet engines.
Jet Engines Are Controlled Explosions
Let’s start with what a jet engine does. Jet engines are masterpieces of physics and engineering that power airplanes by creating a strong push known as thrust. They do this by taking in air from the front, squeezing it tightly, mixing it with fuel, and lighting it on fire. This explosion quickly shoots hot air from the back, propelling the plane forward. It is like a fire-breathing tube that makes airplanes go very fast, but it can be incredibly delicate.
Since jet engines need a massive inflow of smooth, uninterrupted air rushing in at hundreds of miles per hour, adding a cage to the front of the jet engine would affect that needed airflow.
Examples on Why You Can’t Just Cage a Jet Engine
Let’s take a look at an example. An air conditioner takes in warm air, cools it, and blows out cold air. If something blocks the vents where it pulls in warm air, the air conditioner cannot take in and blow out the cool air you need, meaning it will not function properly.
Another example is wearing a face mask. A face mask can make it harder to breathe in deeply through your nostrils, and it might slightly restrict your airflow, especially during physical activity. The same thing would happen if you put a cage on a jet engine, but in a somewhat different way.
While an air conditioner or your nostrils take in the air gently, jet engines suck in the air a thousand times more and way faster. Trying to block that massive air inflow with a cage would not work. It will reduce the engine’s intake of air, which will, in turn, reduce the power output. Even the slightest disruption could cause a “compressor stall,” which means the engine can get confused and stop working properly, and this can be a big problem when you are flying 30,000 feet in the air.
The Cage Would Not Help
If you put a cage on a jet engine, restricted airflow will not be the only problem. Adding a strong cage that could stop birds or debris from entering a jet engine can be dangerous. If something like a bird, ice, or even a part of the engine hits the cage, it could break and send pieces into the engine.
Now, instead of dealing with a bird strike, which, even though it is pretty rare and more manageable, you would have a metal cage strike, which could be more dangerous in mid-air. A bird or debris heavy or powerful enough to damage a jet‘s engine blade would also be heavy enough to damage any cage that you think might protect the engine.
The weather is another big problem when putting a cage on a jet engine. Airplanes do not fly on sunny days with clear skies alone; they fly through rain, storms, snow, freezing temperatures, and blazing heat. A metal cage would have to handle all these temperatures without falling apart. Think of it like leaving a shopping cart outside all year round.
This shopping cart might get icy and brittle in winter, and in the heat of the summer, it could bend or warp, depending on what it is made of. The more the cage is exposed to varying weather conditions, the more it can weaken and become more likely to break or fall apart, which could get sucked into the engine, causing the very damage it was supposed to prevent in the first place. Also, when ice forms on the cage during winter, the engine will have more trouble taking in air.
The Cage Would Add Extra Weight, Which Would Add Extra Problems
In the aviation world, every pound matters. Airplanes are carefully designed to be as light as possible so they can fly efficiently and safely. Adding a strong enough metal cage might not seem like much when you compare it to other parts of the airplane, but even the smallest amount of extra weight can throw off the plane’s balance and increase fuel usage.
If you wanted to add a metal cage to the front of a jet engine, you would like it to be as strong as possible, right? Strong enough to survive extreme weather and prevent it from falling apart mid-air. However, this kind of strength means the cage would not be light.
So now, not only will the cage mess with the airflow, it will also make the plane heavier and less efficient. Engineers go to great lengths to remove ounces, so adding a strong bird/debris barrier to the front of a jet engine will not fly.
Jet Engines Already Have Protections
Jet engines already have built-in protection systems. Although they may look terrifying, they are designed with safety in mind. The built-in protection systems in jet engines can handle specific emergencies. For example, if a piece inside the engine breaks off, which is an infrequent occurrence, the engine is built in a way that will trap the broken parts safely inside. This is called containment design. So, instead of flying out and hitting the plane, the broken part stays inside until it can be safely removed.
Now, you may be wondering about birds; after all, we have all heard stories about birds getting sucked into jet engines, but here is the thing, bird strikes are extremely rare, and it is even more rare for a bird to go deep enough to cause severe engine damage. In most cases, birds either miss the airplane entirely or hit other parts like the nose or wings of the plane, where damage is usually minor.
How Airports Use Technology and Nature to Keep Planes and People Safe
Airports also have clever ways to keep birds away from planes in mid-air. They use special radar systems to spot flocks of birds and then help pilots to avoid them. They use all kinds of tools on the ground to scare birds off, like loud horns, noise cannons, and even fireworks. Some airports even work with trained falcons. Yes, that’s right, real birds of prey. They use them to scare off smaller birds, which helps to protect both the birds and the plane.
While we are at it, let’s clear up a common myth that says people can get sucked into jet engines when they stand nearby. Absolutely not! People do not just get sucked into engines because they are standing nearby. It is extremely rare and only happens when safety rules are ignored. These rules include not getting too close while the engine is running. While jet engines are powerful, they are not giant vacuum cleaners waiting to pull you in.
So yes, jet engines have protections, but they are well-planned and carefully designed, not simple cages. Engineers devised much better ways to keep everyone safe, including birds.
In Summary
The idea of putting a cage on a jet engine might seem like a good one at first, but it would actually create more problems than it would solve. The cage would mess with the airflow, add dangerous weight, and possibly make the engine even more hazardous if it breaks apart. In the world of aviation, where every tiny detail matters and safety and performance are of utmost importance, sometimes less is more.
Next time you see a plane roaring down the runway, remember: there is no cage on that engine for a reason, and it is not because somebody forgot. It is because science, physics, engineering, and a whole lot of testing say the jet engine is better off without a cage.
