How does a jet engine work?

A jet engine produces thrust by following a suck, squeeze, bang, blow cycle. A large fan and compressor at the front draw in air and squeeze it to high pressure. Fuel is sprayed into this compressed air in the combustion chamber and ignited, making it expand violently. The hot, high-speed gas rushes out the back, and as it exits it spins a turbine that drives the front compressor and fan. By Newtons third law, blasting exhaust backward pushes the engine — and the aircraft — forward. Modern airliners use turbofan engines, in which a huge front fan bypasses much of the air around the core, making them quieter and far more fuel-efficient.