A Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is a compact turbine found in aircraft, serving as an alternative or emergency power source for hydraulic and electrical systems. It harnesses energy from the airstream, depending on the aircraft’s speed, and connects to either an electrical generator or a hydraulic pump. Typically, modern aircraft reserve the RAT for emergencies, such as when hydraulic systems fail or primary electrical generation is lost. During these situations, the RAT powers essential systems, including flight controls and critical instruments for navigation and communication. Some RATs only generate hydraulic power, which can then be used to drive an electrical generator. Under normal operations, the RAT remains stowed within the fuselage or wing. It can be deployed manually when needed, or in certain configurations, it will activate automatically if there is a total loss of AC power. Meanwhile, aircraft batteries provide power to crucial instruments between the time of power loss and RAT deployment.
