Gas turbine engines power most modern aircraft and have streamlined air travel and aircraft technology as we know it. The differences between modern turbine engines tend to rely on how exhaust is utilized to create thrust. Overall, the parts of a turbine engine will usually include the following components: inlet/s, compressor, burner, turbine, and exhaust nozzle. Turbine engines used in modern aircraft are separated into 4 categories: turbojet engine, turboprop engine, turbofan engine, and afterburning turbojet engine.

Since the Wright Brothers’ first flight in 1903, the aviation industry has changed quite a bit. But, one of the most crucial components, the reciprocating engine, has not. The reciprocating engine is a heat engine used on propeller aircraft that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert pressure into rotary motion in order to turn the propeller. The reciprocating engine can be started in various ways, depending on size of the engine.