Afterburner/Legends

"What's the last thing to go through an Imperial scout trooper's head when he hits a tree? His afterburner."

- Joke told by Rebel forces on Endor

An afterburner was a component added to the engines of certain atmospheric vehicles.

The afterburner was designed to provide a temporary increase in thrust for situations such as take-off, or, in the case of military vehicles, combat. Additional fuel was injected into the jet pipe downstream of the turbine, and was then ignited by the turbine's exhaust gases, thus providing thrust. Podracers and speeder bikes, such as the Aratech 74-Z were commonly fitted with afterburners.