Thread:Fedorastorm/@comment-5426254-20170501022513/@comment-26104528-20170501040218

1. The G-Engine normally runs on crystal dust, but they often come with a system to allow them to inject additional powdered dust for additional speed. Similar to an afterburner on real-world jet aircraft.

2. The Talon's engines run on roughly the same principle but in reverse. Powdered dust is consumed like fuel, while the built-in crystals are used as boosters or emergency fuel should the aircraft's tanks be ruptured.

3. Oceanus's plasma drives run on electrical dust since Plasma is superheated ionized gas. As for energy consumption, I headcanon that dust is VERY efficient for what it is. It's old, but you saw that explosion that Ruby made when she sneezed on a thing of powdered dust. That and me a friend were actually having a discussion on the difference between the Wind Engine and Plasma Drive.

Wind Engines are akin to real-world propellers and Plasma Drives are akin to Ramjets. The former is great at low speeds and the latter runs well at high speeds. Obviously, not a perfect comparison since wind engines can hit supersonic and the plasma drive can move an aircraft from a standstill. The important part is that once a Plasma Engine's going, yes it will consume a lot of energy to run, but it doesn't take a lot of extra energy to accelerate. But remember, this is also a fantasy magitek universe so I can only come up with so much technobabble.

4. I recall RWBY-Main stating somewhere that Magma dust was its own thing (an orange crystal) but that was also a while ago. I don't know if they're still going with that so to play it safe. Magma dust is a fusion of Earth and Fire.