The atmosphere is constantly working against us. As airplanes climb and gain more true airspeed, engines are simultaneously being robbed of needed air. The air’s lower density at altitude means less power, which can be a critical factor for both cruise performance and takeoffs at high-density-altitude airports. One remedy is to add a turbocharger.
Most aircraft turbochargers use air that’s coming from the engine exhaust to power a small turbine, which in turn drives a fan that compresses intake air before it goes into the engine. That compressed gas mimics surface air pressure up to altitudes in the mid teens.
Most turbochargers are able to provide an abundance of additional power, allowing some airplanes to be operated at a setting higher than sea-level power. The wastegate, a butterfly valve that can be operated either manually or automatically, controls how much exhaust gas enters the turbocharger—and, therefore, the pressure of the compressed air entering the engine.
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