Ever wonder why turboprops need oil? As gas turbine engines, turboprops don’t have cylinders. Cylinders are exclusive to reciprocating or piston engines. Even without cylinders, though, turboprops still require oil to function as intended. Lubrication One of the main functions … Read More
Pilots and airlines must carefully calculate fuel usage for flights. With the exception of fully electric airplanes, which are mostly still in development, all airplanes burn fuel. A typical Boeing 747, for instance, burns roughly 5,000 to 12,000 gallons of … Read More
Fire protection is a critical part of aircraft engineering. Among the many components that protect airplanes and other types of aircraft from fire hazards are fire sleeves. Consisting of hollow tubes or “sleeves” made of fire-resistant materials, they shield hoses, … Read More
Turbofans are one of the most common types of aircraft engines. They are characterized by the use of a ducted fan to blow air around the combination chamber. Upon entering a turbofan, some of the air will enter the combustion … Read More
Rivets play an important role in the aerospace industry. These heavy-duty fasteners are used to create permanent joints in airplanes and other types of aircraft. A typical Boeing 737, for instance, has roughly 200,000 rivets. When shopping for aerospace rivets, … Read More
While the exact number varies, statistics show that there are roughly 100,000 to 130,000 flights globally on any given day. Many of these flights fall under the category of commercial aviation. Others, however, fall under the category of general aviation. … Read More
Not all aircraft propellers are the same. While most pilots are familiar with fixed pitch and constant speed, there are other types available, such as climb and cruise. Climb and cruise propellers are both classified as fixed-pitch propellers. Like all … Read More
When most people think of airplanes, they envision large commercial airliners with two or four jet engines. There are many different types of airplanes. While some of them have jet engines or propeller engines, others don’t have any engines. Known … Read More
Aircraft maintenance encompasses a wide range of components. In addition to the fuselage and landing gear, for instance, flight control surfaces require maintenance. Flight control surfaces are adjustable parts that allow pilots to control the airplane’s direction or altitude during … Read More