Today's new family of GE GenX engines for Boeing's new 787and 747-8 produce upward of 70,000 pounds of thrust compared to the 5,000 pounds for the early jet power plants. Ever wonder how that happens?

An aircraft travelling through the atmosphere produces air-pressure waves similar to a ship's bow-wave. When the aircraft exceeds the speed of sound, these waves combine to form shock-waves. The sonic ...