A ram air turbine (RAT) is one of the numerous failsafe systems that are designed into modern airplanes. The acronym RAT refers to auxiliary power systems. In the event that an aircraft loses power, the RAT will activate. It will provide propulsion in the event of an emergency, allowing the pilot to maintain flight until landing. Even though you are already familiar with the function of a RAT, you are likely to be surprised by the following information regarding these auxiliary power systems.

Performs the Role of a Miniature Wind Turbine

RATs operate like little wind turbines. Frequently, aircraft have what appear to be miniature propellers affixed on the nose or the wings. The propeller blades will rotate while the aircraft is in flight. Attached to the rotating turbine is a pump or an electrical generator. The propeller blades’ rotation will activate the electrical generator or compressor to which they are connected, thereby producing electricity from the propeller blades’ motion.

The Airbus A380 Contains the World’s Most Extensive RAT

RATs can be found in a variety of sizes. The Airbus A380’s RAT is significantly larger than any other RAT in the world. It measures sixty-four and a half inches in diameter. To place this number in perspective, a typical RAT has a diameter between 25 and 35 inches. Consequently, the RAT on the A380 is approximately double that of other aircraft.

Requires Deployment

Before RATs can begin generating electricity, they must be installed in their ultimate locations. By default, they are hidden within the ship’s fuselage. At least until they are activated, you will not notice any RATs on the aircraft’s nose, wings, or anywhere else. Some RATs are automatically deployed without human intervention. In the event that an aircraft loses power, its RAT may deploy autonomously outside of the fuselage. Other RAT deployments must be performed manually. The pilots must manually activate the RAT in order for it to be liberated from the fuselage.

Depending On the Flight’s Velocity

The RAT of an aircraft varies based on the speed at which it is traveling. RATs generate more electricity when traveling at greater speeds. When an aircraft is traveling at a high speed, the RAT’s propeller blades will rotate rapidly. And the rate of rotation of the propeller blades determines the quantity of electricity the RAT can generate.

Often Utilized alongside Batteries RATs, which are frequently used to provide emergency electricity to aircraft, are typically paired with batteries. Power outages pose a threat to airline passengers, flight personnel, and other individuals. Despite the fact that they were designed to provide emergency electricity to aircraft, RATs require some time to become operational. They must first be placed into service before they can begin producing electricity. Consequently, a considerable number of aircraft utilize batteries in addition to RATs. If an aircraft’s principal power source fails, the batteries will continue to provide emergency backup power until the RAT takes over.

After the loss of electrical power to AC BUS 1 and 2, the Airbus will autonomously transition into the Emergency Electrical Configuration. The Ram Air Turbine provides reserve power to the Emergency Generator (EMER GEN), which in turn provides supplies to the Ram Air Turbine. The Ram Air Turbine generates a limited amount of electricity. In this situation, the number of available aircraft systems has been significantly reduced.