Aerospace Engineering

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has different classifications for airplanes. Small airplanes, for instance, fall under the Normal, Utility, Transport or Acrobatic category depending on how they are used. Airplanes in the Normal category are used for carrying passengers … Read More

Crosswinds are a concern when piloting an airplane. Very rarely do winds align perfectly with an airplane’s path of travel. Instead, winds typically move in a different direction, which can result in crosswinds. To learn more about crosswinds and how … Read More

Composite materials have become increasingly common in the aerospace industry. Modern airplanes like the Boeing 787 are often comprised of at least 50% composite materials. Consisting of reinforcing fibers mixed with a polymer matrix, they offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio. … Read More

When researching aircraft systems, you may come across pitot-static systems. Pilots today rely on a variety of instruments to provide essential flight data. The pitot-static system is a collection of instruments that’s responsible for measuring airspeed, vertical speed, altitude and … Read More

Proper torque is essential when installing aircraft bolts. With their threaded body or “shank,” bolts offer a convenient way to fasten parts. You can drive a bolt through two or more parts to secure them together. When used to assemble … Read More

Takeoffs are complex flight procedures that involve many different steps. Pilots, for instance, must calculate an appropriate speed. Airplanes must fly fast enough to generate sufficient lift. Otherwise, they won’t be able to take off. V1 is one of the … Read More

The empennage is an important part of modern-day airplanes. Also known as the tail assembly, it provides stabilization as well as pitch and yaw control. Without a tail, most airplanes would be too unstable to fly. Airplanes would essentially “swing” … Read More

Material fatigue is a concern in aviation safety. Airplanes are exposed to significant mechanical stress during flight. Over time, this can lead to material fatigue that jeopardizes the airplane’s structural integrity. For a better understanding of material fatigue in aviation, … Read More

Sheet metal screws offer a reliable fastening solution for sheet metal panels. Like all screws, they feature a pointed tip and threaded shank. Sheet metal screws, however, typically have finer and deeper threads than those found on other types of … Read More