SUPERSONIC INTAKES

At supersonic speeds, the pitot type of air intake is unsuitable due to the severity of shock waves which form and progressively reduce the intake efficiency as speed increases. To overcome this problem the compression intake was designed.

This type of intake produces a series of mild shock waves without reducing the intake efficiency, as the aircraft speed increases, so also does the intake compression ratio. At high mach numbers it becomes necessary to have an air intake which has a variable thrust area and spill doors to control the column of air.