Aerospace Engineering

Have you heard of ultralight aircraft? Also known as microlight and light-sport aircraft, depending on the country, it encompasses small and lightweight airborne vehicles. When most people think of aircraft, they envision jumbo-sized commercial airliners. While large airliners like the … Read More

One of the first steps to becoming a pilot is obtaining a license. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all pilots to maintain a license. There are different classes of pilot licenses, however, one of the most common being … Read More

The wings on a typical airplane aren’t completely flat or fixed. Rather, they typically feature flaps. Some airplanes have ailerons or spoilers on their wings, for instance, whereas others have droop flaps on their wings. What are droop flaps exactly, … Read More

When most people think of aircraft engines, they envision the turbofan. The turbofan is a type of jet engine that uses a gas turbine to power a ducted pan. It burns a mixture of jet fuel and air. Exhaust gases … Read More

You can’t believe everything you read and hear about tail fins. Tail fins, of course, are part of aircraft tail assemblies. Most airplanes have a single tail fin on their tail assembly or empennage. Unfortunately, tail fins are shrouded in … Read More

Flight delays are more than just an inconvenience; they can ruin travel plans while disrupting passengers’ daily lives. If you regularly travel by flying, however, you’re bound to encounter some delays. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) says that … Read More

Ever wonder how cockpit windshields protect against bird strikes? The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says that roughly 47 airplanes are struck by birds on any given day. Most bird strikes involve the cockpit windshield. A bird or flock of … Read More

The wings of a typical airplane have a leading edge and a trailing edge. Both of these edges play an important role in the flight dynamics of modern-day airplanes. Most airplanes today don’t have flat, fixed wings. Rather, they have … Read More

An attitude indicator is an important type of flight instrument. Located in the cockpit — as part of the six-pack of flight instruments — it reveals the airplane’s position relative to the Earth’s horizon. Whether you’re flying a turbofan or … Read More