REPORT

TECHNICAL VISIT TO KENYA AIRWAYS

HANGER SECTION

26th November 2014

Denis Ngene Mbugua

Reg. no. 112/00519

B.ENG AERONAUTICAL

YEAR 3, SEMESTER 2

Topic:
Technical visit to Kenya airways hanger section

Objective:
To understand propulsion system of an aircraft

Introduction:
A propulsion system is a machine that is produces thrust to push an object forward. On airplanes,
thrust is usually generated through some application of Newtons third law of action and
reaction. The working fluid is accelerated by the engine and the reaction to this acceleration
produces a force on the engine. The amount of thrust generated depends on the mass flow
through the engine and the exit velocity of the gas. Different propulsion systems generate thrust
at slightly different ways. These different engines that generate thrust are categorized under the
power engines and the reaction engines.
Reaction engines derive thrust by jet reaction example are turbo jet, high/low by-pass /turbo fan
engines.
On the other end power engines provide mechanical output to drive another device that generates
the propulsive force. Examples are turbo prop, turbo shaft as used in the helicopter.
The propulsion system of the aircraft must serve two purposes
1. The thrust from the propulsion system must balance the drag of the airplane when the
airplane is cruising.
2. The thrust from the propulsion system must exceed the drag of the airplane for the
airplane to accelerate.
Boeing 737-800 aircraft was used for our case study.

Passenger
Capacity
16 (Premier
Class)
129 (Economy
Class)
RVR
Cat II 100 DH
And 1,200 RVR
Maximum
range
3,060 nm

Calibration unit
metric

MLW
146300 lb

OEW
93935 LB

Cargo
1555 cu ft

Max. Take-off
Weight
174,200 lb
Typical cruise
speed
Mach 0.78

ILS
Category
CAT II
ETOPS
Yes 180
minutes

Maximum thrust
(engine)
27,300 lb
Min. runway
length 4,000 ft

Maximum fuel
capacity
26,020

Boeing 737-800 technical configurations

Fire category
Fire extinguishing system installed in forward and aft lower lobe cargo compartments.
System certified for 195 minutes fire suppression (Ref: 0224-000036- EXTENDED
RANGE).
Conforms to FAR 25.857 Class C
OEW- operational empty weight: is the sum of manufacturers empty weight, standard items and
operator items
ETOPS- extended range twin operations. ETOPS certification allows twin-engine airliners to fly
long distances, for being aircraft operating with twin engine is certified for 180 minutes, this
means it is permitted to fly any route not more than 180 minutes single engine flying time to the
nearest suitable airport
ILS- instrument landing system is a ground based instrument approach system that provides
precision lateral and vertical guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway. CAT
2 ILS is more highly calibrated with respect to ground equipment, runway occupancy, clearance
areas and aircrew training. These system can be carried out in RVRs as low as 1200 as used in
Boeing 737-800

Boeing 737-800 have a non-circular air intake, the aircraft uses a turbofan engine giving a
significant gain in fuel economy and reduction in noise by incorporating perforated composite
wall material at the intake fan and a honey comb design at the propelling nozzle.
Winglets present in the aircraft help in reducing fuel burn by reducing vortex drag in turn
reducing engine wear and less noise on takeoff
Boeing uses a high by pass turbo fan jet engine

High by-pass turbo fan engines have very large fans driven by a relatively small core engine. The
fun is geared to run at a lower speed than the low pressure turbine, which gives the turbine
mechanical advantage and also allows it to run at higher speed where it is more efficient.
High by-pass engines are very fuel efficient, powerful and quiet. These engines have large
diameter which does give drag problems and are not suitable for high speed flight as the blade
tips will suffer compressibility effects as they approach the speed of sound