Aerospace Engineering

The average speed of a commercial airliner is 460 to 575 mph. At this speed, flights from New York to London take just six to seven hours. Some airplanes, however, can fly faster than the speed of sound. Known as … Read More

An auxiliary fuel pump is a common component of airplanes with fuel-injected engines. As the name suggests, it’s designed to “pump” fuel to the engines. Upon reaching the engines, the fuel is mixed with air and ignited. This triggers the … Read More

Are you familiar with the different types of drag? All airplanes experience drag during flight. Along with weight, thrust and lift, it’s one of the four forces of flight. Drag is the invisible force that opposes objects in motion. As … Read More

Airplanes are often classified according to how many aisles of passenger seats they have. There are wide-body airplanes, and there are narrow-body airplanes. Wide-body airplanes have a single aisle of passenger seats, whereas narrow-body airplanes only have one aisle of … Read More

Locking wire offers a quick and effective way to secure fasteners. Also known as safety wire, it consists of flexible metal wire. You can wrap locking wire around bolts, screws, pins and other fasteners to prevent them from loosening. If … Read More

Relative wind is an important concept in aviation. Whether it’s a small Cessna 172 or a jumbo-sized Airbus A320, all airplanes are affected by the wind. It can affect their speed, fuel efficiency and overall performance. Pilots must understand the … Read More

Airplanes have revolutionized the way in which we travel. With the cruising speed of commercial airliners reaching about 475 to 575 mph, they allow passengers to quickly reach their destinations — without encountering traffic. While they have a superior level … Read More

Statistics show that roughly 7% of all commercial aircraft accidents involve stalls. When an aircraft experiences a stall, it will no longer produce sufficient lift. The engine or engines will likely continue to run. Instead, the aircraft’s angle of attack … Read More

Ever notice how most airplanes have curved tips at the end of their wings? Known as winglets, they are a common feature of commercial jets. Boeing 737 jets and Airbus A320 jets, for instance, have winglets. Their wings aren’t completely … Read More