Aircraft cowlings must be secured so that they don’t open or fall off during flight. Most jet-engine airplanes, of course, have removable coverings over their engines. Known as cowlings, they reduce drag, improve airflow and promote cooling. If you own … Read More
When thinking of navigation tools commonly found in airplanes, a compass probably isn’t at the top of your list. After all, most airplanes are equipped with more advanced electronic navigation tools, such as heading indicators, Inertial Navigation System (INS) and … Read More
You can’t build an airplane without fasteners. A typical commercial airliner has hundreds of thousands of individual parts. Fasteners are responsible for holding these parts together and, thus, maintaining the airplane’s structural integrity. In this post, we’re going to reveal … Read More
Sandpaper isn’t the only abrasive finishing tool with which you can use to remove surface imperfections. There are other finishing tools available, such as scuff hand pads. Developed by 3M, scuff hand pads are highly versatile. Here’s everything you need … Read More
O-rings play an important role in the aerospace manufacturing industry. Also known as toric joints — a reference to their circular torus shape — they are designed to seal the spaces around hoses and other parts. Connection points for hoses … Read More
Ever wonder how airplanes prevent trailstrikes? Tailstrikes are a concern for pilots. As the name suggests, they involve the tail of an airplane — specifically the underside of the tail or rear fuselage — striking the runway. Nearly all types … Read More
Hoses and tubes are commonly used in airplanes. There are pneumatic and hydraulic hoses, for instance. The former carries pressurized air, whereas the latter carries pressure liquid. Airplanes use these hoses in various systems, such as landing gear and engine … Read More
Have you heard of adverse yaw? Yaw, of course, is one of the three axes of flight. It represents the oscillation or rotation of an object, such as an airplane, around a vertical axis. Pilots can control the airplane’s yaw … Read More
Ever wonder why airplanes use knots to measure their speed instead of MPH? The speedometers in cars, trucks and other land-based vehicles display speed in MPH. The airspeed indicators in airplanes, however, display speed in knots. What Is a Knot? … Read More
