Aerospace Engineering

When inspecting the wings of an airplane, you may notice they have hinge-like flaps on the trailing edge. Known as ailerons, they play an important role in modern aviation. Ailerons allow pilots to “roll” airplanes, thereby banking the aircraft to … Read More

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

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

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

The wings are one of the most important components of airplanes. Consisting of flat, semiflexible structures that extend out from the fuselage, they are responsible for generating lift. Lift, of course, is the upward pulling force that counters the downward … Read More

Ever wonder how air temperature affects airplanes? From takeoff times to climbing performance and even fuel performance, air temperature can affect many aspects of flight. It’s not something that most passengers think of, but experienced pilots know how to account … Read More