Why Most Propeller Aircraft Have Front-Facing Engines

When you picture a propeller-driven aircraft, you probably imagine a single engine plane with the propeller spinning at the front. There's a good reason for that, as the front-facing design has proven to be the best when it comes to performance, balance, and safety. It all begins with the fact that propeller aircraft with rear-facing engines are pushed forward instead of pulled, which immediately affects efficiency.

That's because propeller aircraft with front-facing engines face far less turbulence than aircraft with rear-facing propellers. Front-facing engines also aren't as noisy  and regulating temperature is much easier with a front-facing configuration as well, as nothing's in the way of the propeller naturally pulling air in to cool down the engines.

Then there's the problem of a pilot being forced to eject from a plane with rear-facing engines, as it's generally considered not as safe. Aircraft with front-facing engines also don't have the problem of objects like dirt and rocks being caught in the propeller due to disruption upon landing.

Most propeller aircraft have front-facing engines, but that's not the case for many helicopters with turboshaft engines, which are on top and power the rotor. The rotor is similar to a propeller and allows the helicopter to create vertical thrust, thus lifting it up into the air. Whether it's powerful military choppers or fast civilian helicopters, the same motion that pulls a plane forward, also works going straight up. But there are other types of craft that still rely on rear-facing engines.

Cargo ships, cruise ships and military ships, have rear-facing engines and propellers due to the amount of thrust needed to push through the water. The propellers rotate, thus pulling water in and pushing it out faster to boost the ship forward. Like a plane in the air, the ship's propeller keeps the craft moving forward through the water.

While propellers may seem old-fashioned, that perception is changing thanks to drone technology. There are also propeller aircraft still used by the military, as  propellers are one of the most efficient forms of propulsion and will likely remain so for many years to come.