These air turbines, which you probably didn’t realize before, are located in the fuselage on some models and in the wing on others.
Although it may seem that it is not that important at first glance, it is actually of vital importance. Let’s talk in detail about what exactly it does and how it is so important:
This propeller system comes into play in an emergency and generates the electricity needed by the aircraft.
Ram air turbine contains an electric motor and generates energy for electrical systems which are vital for aircraft. It only comes into play in emergencies because under normal conditions, the engines produce the electricity needed by the aircraft.
Ram air turbine generates power from the air flow created by the speed of the aircraft.
These turbines, which are one of the spare systems of the aircraft, provide 5000-6950 RPM rotation to their propellers; thus providing the necessary hydraulic pressure to the main flight control systems and the back-up electric generator, allowing the aircraft to fly safely.
In a scenario where two engines stop at once; ram air turbine takes on the task of savior.
It activates automatically in case of emergency, depending on the model of the aircraft, or is activated by the pilots. It is possible to maintain the most basic functions required for flight thanks to this turbine.
Even if we say small, the diameter of the propellers of these air turbines is 80 cm on average. So it is small compared to the plane.
The version on the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane, is 163 cm. The passenger plane model in which this turbine was first used was the Vickers VC10, which was produced in England in the 1960s.
The ram air turbine, which intervened in emergencies and saved many lives, played a vital role in a famous accident that was also the subject of the movie “Sully”.
On January 15, 2009, in New York, a plane crashed into a flock of birds just after takeoff, and both engines of the plane completely lost power. The pilots made a decision in a very short time and activated the auxiliary power unit (APU: auxiliary power unit) and air turbine of the aircraft.
In this way, the pilots, who could use the electrical circuits, were able to continue to command the Airbus A320 type aircraft, which performed US Airways flight 1549, and then succeeded in making a successful emergency landing in the Hudson River.
These turbines are not available in all models.
For example; The Boeing 737’s flight control system is designed so that it can be controlled by the pilots for at least 60 minutes, even if the onboard electrical supplies are depleted.
It can also be used other than passenger aircraft.
It is not necessary to make a lot of speed for the propellers to rotate. Also, although it is small, it works very noisy.
Sources: Sky Brary, Airline 101
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