What Happens If You Throw Sand Into a Jet Engine?

Ever wondered how a jet engine survives insane temperatures and ingesting sketchy stuff like sand? This deep-dive video walks you through the entire anatomy of a jet engine—from airflow basics and massive compressor stages to the super-cool inner workings of nickel-based superalloys and precision-grown single-crystal turbine blades. You’ll see how Rolls-Royce casts, machines, and cools their blades so they don’t melt, even when things get scorching.

When we finally toss sand into the mix, you learn exactly why those ultra-tough materials and clever cooling channels matter: they resist erosion, prevent blade failure, and keep planes flying safely. Sprinkle in expert insights from Cambridge, Ruhr University Bochum, and loads of animations, and you’ve got a surprisingly chill, nerdy tour of one of engineering’s coolest marvels.

Watch on YouTube