Aircraft are broadly categorized into two main types based on how they generate lift and maneuver through the air: fixed-wing and rotary-wing. While both categories are indispensable in their respective domains, they are optimized for different purposes and environments. In this blog, we will examine the main distinctions between these aircraft types, offering a clear picture of their structure, capabilities, and use cases.
Learn MoreAircraft are marvels of engineering, capable of soaring through the skies with grace and precision despite their immense weight. The designs of aircraft have changed many times over the years as scientists and engineers find new materials and construction styles that benefit flight operations and safety. In this blog, we will explore the composition of modern airframes, the structural framework of aircraft that ensures their strength, durability, and performance.
Learn MoreSince their debut, powered aircraft have completely transformed how we conduct transportation on a domestic and global scale, enhancing accessibility to locations across the world. There are two primary categories of aircraft, those including fixed-wing and rotary-wing types. Although both forms of aircraft are used for conducting flight operations, they possess unique features that differentiate them from one another. This article will outline the fundamental differences between fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, allowing you to understand their differences and unique uses.
Learn MoreHelicopters are a marvel of modern engineering, and their ability to take off vertically and hover in the air is an impressive feat. But how do they do it? The answer lies in the way that helicopters create lift. To better understand this phenomenon, we will explore the science behind how these rotary-wing aircraft produce the necessary lift to achieve flight.
Learn MoreOn aircraft, few threats demand quicker detection and response than onboard fires. The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is one system that demands special attention in this regard, its enclosed design, high operational temperature, and proximity to other critical systems classifying it as a risky zone. Although it is a supplementary power source and not as large as the main engines, high-precision fire detection and extinguishing measures must be in place to avoid structural damage or harm to passengers and crew. This blog will cover all the basics of an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)’s fire detection and extinguishing system, walking you through its core components and typical operation.
Learn MoreAnchor points are a necessary feature of machinery featuring cables, designed to terminate cable ends while holding them in place with ample security. In order to operate a cable’s anchor point, parts like shank balls may be used. Coming in the form of a shank and a ball, these parts allow for a simplistic, yet effective, anchor point to be established in an assembly for securing cables.
Learn MoreWhen considering the critical safety elements of modern aircraft, plug doors stand out as one of the primary features of countless commercial aircraft designs. Their unique, self-sealing capabilities are notable for promoting cabin pressurization and preventing mid-flight openings, a major safety concern at high altitudes. For those who are interested in learning more about these structural components, read on as we dive into the mechanics, applications, and advantages of plug doors in aviation.
Learn MoreAircraft require air for a wide range of purposes. Luckily, they do not have to utilize separate devices or systems to generate air. In fact, planes can easily get this air from their engines, and it is referred to as bleed air. This is only the case as long as the aircraft has air-breathing turbine engines. To better understand the complexity of this type of air, we will provide a brief overview of bleed air.
Learn MoreOne of the most important systems of a commercial airliner is the environmental control system (ECS), that of which is often overshadowed by various apparatuses and equipment in wider discussions. While some may not be too familiar with what these systems do, they are crucial for passenger and crew member safety. This is a result of the high altitudes that aircraft travel at during standard flight, atmospheric conditions often being very poor in terms of temperature, oxygen availability, and more. To keep everyone safe and comfortable during their travel, environmental control systems are used to regulate both pressure and temperature.
Learn MoreIn aircraft that are operated by jet engines, an intake, or an inlet, the engine is required to capture and slow down the air within the engine before it reaches the combustion chamber. Not all intake ducts are created equal, as there are multiple varieties available on the market, all of which offer different advantages and disadvantages.
Learn MoreAircraft rely on a variety of fasteners to hold different parts together and in place during flight, including bolts, screws, and other threaded fasteners; however, many aircraft also rely on rivets as a vibration-proof alternative to fasteners. Rivets create secure attachments by piercing through the surface of a part or multiple parts being held together, similar to a screw with a smooth, rather than threaded, surface. In this blog, we will look specifically at a type of rivet known as a self-piercing rivet and how they function to create a steady hold for various aviation applications.
Learn MoreAircraft rely on landing gear for takeoff and landing. Consisting of wheels affixed to a hinge-like system, landing gear is generally found under the nose and around the wings. The wheels are usually retractable, but may take on a fixed configuration as well. Fixed landing gear, unlike retractable landing gear, hangs underneath an aircraft during flight. Retractable landing gear, as its name suggests, is stowed inside the aircraft.
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