6 Facts About Aircraft Control Yokes

Of all the different controls in a typical airplane’s cockpit, few are as important as the control yoke. It’s the equivalent of a steering wheel in a car or truck. Pilots can essentially steer and change the airplane’s direction by … Read More

Cowl Flap Controls: How Pilots Open and Close Cowl Flaps

Cowl flaps play an important role in regulating engine temperatures in many airplanes. Located at the bottom of an engine’s cowling, they increase airflow to keep temperatures in check. Air will flow into the cowling and around the engine, thereby … Read More

The Beginner’s Guide to Latch Strikes

Latch strikes play an important role in the function of many access panels, doors and enclosures. They are used in conjunction with a latch to provide a means of opening and closing the aforementioned objects. After installing a latch and … Read More

LED vs Incandescent Lighting in Aviation

Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting isn’t used exclusively in homes and buildings; you can now find it in airplanes and other types of aircraft as well. LED, in fact, has become one of the most popular lighting technologies used in the … Read More

6 Facts About Black Box Recorders

Flight recorders play an important role in aviation safety. Also known colloquially as “black boxes,” they store data about the airplane with which they are used. If an accident occurs, investigators can analyze the airplane’s black box to determine what … Read More

Why Airplanes Have an Exhaust Temperature Gauge

If you ever step into the cockpit of a light piston airplane, you may discover that it has an exhaust temperature gauge. Also known as an EGT gauge or EGT sensor, it reveals the temperature of the airplane’s exhaust gases. … Read More

What Is an Internal Wrenching Bolt?

Bolts come in a variety of styles. While most of these styles consist of a solid head with a fixed number of edges, some of them feature a drive recess within the head. Known as internal wrenching bolts, they are … Read More

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Nutplate

For some fastening applications, a traditional nut simply won’t cut it. Instead, you may need to use a nutplate. Also known as an anchor nuts, nutplates are fasteners with a threaded hole in the center. They are typically made of … Read More

Understanding the Ignition Switch and How It Works

As most seasoned pilots know, activating the ignition switch is one of the first steps to taking off from the runway. It’s the equivalent of inserting and turning a key in the ignition of an automobile. The ignition switch will … Read More