As aircraft and their structures continue to be developed and improved upon, various control surfaces have come about to assist in stabilizing the aircraft during flight and allowing for pilots to adjust directional heading. On the tail-end of the fuselage, aircraft often utilize elevators and horizontal stabilizers in order to adjust the pitch, yaw, and other axes alongside providing stabilization. For more higher performance aircraft that require more maneuverability, such as high speed military fighter jets, a fully moveable surface known as a stabilator combines the functionality of the elevator and horizontal stabilizer.
There are different types of washers that are used in aviation manufacturing and in the aircraft industrial sectors. In this article, we will discuss three different washer types, those being plain washers, lock washers, and shakeproof lock washers. Aircraft washers utilized in airframe fix are either plain, lock, or extraordinary sort washers. Read the helpful article below for more information.
Thrust reversal, also known as reverse thrust, is the momentary diversion of an aircraft engine’s thrust so that it acts counter to the forward travel of the aircraft, providing a means of deceleration. Thrust reversal systems are found on many jet aircraft, where they help the aircraft slow down upon touch-down, reduce wear on the brakes & landing gear, and enable shorter landing distances. These systems affect the aircraft significantly and are an integral component in its safe operation. In addition to jet aircraft, thrust reversal is used on many propeller-driven aircraft. In these aircraft, reverse thrust is achieved through the reversal of controllable-pitch propellers to a negative angle. There are multiple types of thrust reversal in both propeller-driven and jet aircraft.
While the aircraft fuel system may be complex in design and construction, it is fairly simple in its purpose, which is to deliver a steady supply of fuel to the engine during operation. This flow must be supplied in exact amounts, accommodating for power settings, attitude, altitude, or any other flight condition or combination thereof. Depending on the aircraft in question, fuel systems such as the gravity fed or fuel pump system may be implemented. In this blog, we will discuss each type of fuel system and how they function.
Similar to how an inactive motor vehicle will need time to warm up before it is safe to drive, aircraft also need significant care and time to warm up and “stretch.” If an aircraft is inactive for too long, it gets into what those in the aviation industry call “ hibernation mode” meaning its functions and components (such as the engine) may need time to warm up before operating. In the article below, you can read more about a specialists' manual for checking some essential territories of your plane before you head off somewhere out there this spring.
When assembling an aircraft, fasteners are extremely useful for securing components together. With the use of aircraft fastener components, structures, equipment, avionics, and other parts can be joined together. Fasteners are implemented within an assembly to support loads, relieve tension stresses, mitigate vibration, safely hold structures together, and beyond. Rivets in particular are a type of mechanical fastener, providing for a permanent attachment of components. In regards to aircraft assembly, rivets are widely used across many assemblies and structures. For example, a single Boeing 747 uses 40,000 rivets on a single wing.
Rotary wing aircraft, also known as rotorcraft, are a type of aircraft that produces lift through spinning rotor blades placed around a mast.
A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that transfer’s power from the engine to the transmission. Torque converters rely on fluid hydrodynamics to allow the engine to spin independently of the transmission. When the engine is idling, as it does when you are at a stop light, the amount of torque present in the converter is miniscule. However, there is still enough torque to necessitate pressure on the brake pedal in order to prevent the car from creeping forward. When you release the brake and press on the gas, the engine speeds up and pumps more fluid into the torque converter, resulting in more power (in the form of torque) being sent to the wheels.
Understanding the functions of an aircraft’s various control surfaces is one of the most important parts of being a pilot. Each surface affects the aircraft’s aerodynamic profile in different ways, and how they work and when to use them are the most important things a pilot can know. This includes the flaps mounted on the wings, which are vital for take-off and landing procedures.
Composite materials are widely used in the aviation industry, and for good reason; their unique properties let engineers overcome design obstacles that would be otherwise impossible to solve. Common composite materials include fiberglass, carbon fiber, and fiber-reinforced matrix systems. Fiberglass is the most common and was first widely used in boats and automobiles in the 1950’s, the same decade Boeing introduced the material in its passenger jets. Today, aircraft structures are often made up of 50 to 70 percent composite materials. While composite materials have many advantages, there are also some detractors that fear they pose a safety risk in aviation. In this blog, we will break down the greatest pros and cons for composite materials in aviation.