An
intake, or especially for aircraft
inlet, is an air intake for an
engine. Because the modern
internal combustion engine is in essence a powerful
air pump, like the
exhaust system on an engine, the intake must be carefully engineered and tuned to provide the greatest efficiency and
power. An ideal intake system should increase the velocity of the air until it travels into the
combustion chamber, while minimizing
turbulence and restriction of flow.