Aerospace Engineering

Airbreathing jet engines play an important role in the commercial aviation industry. While smaller commercial airplanes are often powered by one or more propeller engines, such as a turboprop, larger commercial airplanes typically use airbreathing jet engines. As propulsion generators, … Read More

Ever wonder how often landing gear tires last? With the exception of seaplanes, most airplanes have multiple tires as part of their landing gear assemblies. The Boeing 777, for instance, features over a dozen tires. They are designed to absorb … Read More

Do you know the difference between airspeed and groundspeed? In the world of aviation, they are two essential flight metrics that pilots must monitor. While airspeed and groundspeed may sound self-explanatory, however, they each use their own formula. Here’s everything … Read More

Flight instruments play an important role in modern airplanes. Found in the cockpit, they consist of displays, gauges and control panels. In the past, airplanes used analog flight instruments. Modern airplanes, however, now use electronic flight instruments. Here are five … Read More

Ever wonder how pilots control the altitude of airplanes? Commercial airplanes fly at an altitude of roughly 30,000 feet. At high altitudes such as this, the air is thinner. Thin air creates less drag, allowing airplanes to fly longer distances … Read More

Airplanes typically require a cooling mechanism for their engine or engines. As they burn a mixture of fuel and air, they will produce heat as a byproduct. If left unchecked, this heat can cause catastrophic damage. While most cars and … Read More

Aspect ratio plays an important role in aircraft design. All airplanes have an aspect ratio. Some of them, however, have a higher aspect ratio than others. Whether you’re a pilot, engineer or simply an aviation enthusiast, you might be wondering … Read More

Paint isn’t used strictly for commercial logos and branding on airplanes. Whether it’s a narrow body or wide body, all airplanes require paint to protect them from the elements. It serves as a physical barrier, protecting the underlying fuselage materials … Read More

The field of aviation encompasses some rather confusing concepts, one of which is flight level. Many people assume that flight level is just another term used to describe an airplane’s altitude. While they both represent how high an airplane is, … Read More