Static labelled overviewSelected: Turbofan Fan

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Read about Turbofan fan

Guided journey

Core airflow: intake to exhaust

Follow the working fluid through the generic two-spool turbofan before tracing the shafts that return turbine work to the compressors and fan.

Step 1 of 8Intake

The intake presents the incoming air to the fan.

Trace the system

What connects to this part?

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Find it in the model

Test spatial recall with the four reviewed low-pressure-system concepts.

Compare mode

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Comparison

Compare where each high-lift device sits and how it changes the wing.

Compare	Trailing-edge flap	Leading-edge slat
Location	Inboard trailing edge	Wing leading edge
Primary effect	Increases camber and often area	Opens a slot that delays separation
Exam distinction	Adds substantial lift and drag	Helps sustain attached flow at high angle of attack

Reviewed FAA source (2026-09-09)

Turbofan fan

The fan is the large front rotor that adds energy to both the core stream and the bypass stream.

Where it is: At the front of the illustrated turbofan, immediately behind the intake lip.
What it does: It moves a large mass of air and supplies the core flow that continues to the compressors.
Relationship: The low-pressure shaft connects the fan to the low-pressure turbine; the bypass duct carries part of the fan flow around the core.
Common confusion: The fan is not the same as the compressor. It handles both core and bypass air, while the core compressor raises pressure through later stages.

Check yourself

Without looking back, can you explain where the turbofan fan is, what it does, and which component drives it or is driven by it?

Scope: Generic two-spool high-bypass turbofan teaching model. Reviewed 2026-09-09.

Related concepts

Sources

NASA Glenn: Turbofan engines