GTSC's propulsion team is responsible for delivering the power behind our record-breaking ambitions. From Hyperion's Electric Ducted Fan to the Record Breaker Program's turbojet engine, the propulsion team is the only student team in the United States attempting to integrate such advanced propulsion systems onto flight-worthy aircraft. The team is currently finishing the development of our in-house micro-turbojet engine test stand, built to characterize engines up to 7 inches in diameter and 200 pounds of thrust. The test stand will act as the foundation for turbojet modification projects, as well drive the club's vehicle design process. This will be a key milestone for the team, allowing for an iterative design approach, and providing members valuable hands on experience with testing gas turbine engines.

To take a vehicle to such high speeds, the engine must be refined to near perfection in order to maximize thrust output. To achieve this, the team is designing custom exit nozzles, as well as beginning development for a student-designed afterburner for a 30-pound force engine. The afterburner project will facilitate student research, design, and testing of fuel injectors, flame holders, cooling configurations, and many more combustion devices. Developing modification projects on smaller engines ensures safety when testing, and reduces costs, allowing for an iterative design process. For the Record Breaker Program, the team will be utilizing a 100-pound force engine from factory, which, in addition to consistently applied improvements, will propel our vehicles to new records.