Aerospace Engineering

Airplanes today can fly longer than their predecessors in the past. There are commercial jets, for instance, that can fly up to 9,000 nautical miles — sometimes even farther. The airplane with the longest range is the Airbus A350 XWB. … Read More

Not all gaskets are made of an elastomer material; some of them are made of metal. There are metal gaskets used in automotive engines as well as aircraft. Like all gaskets, they are designed to protect against leaks. They seal … Read More

Not all airplanes have flat, straight wings. On the contrary, many of them have wingtip devices to reduce drag. Wingtip devices are aerodynamic surfaces located at the end of the wings. They typically feature a curved shape, which helps to … Read More

When shopping for rivets, you may come across oscar rivets. They are commonly used in the aerospace industry. Like other rivets, oscar rivets are permanently fasteners. Once installed, they will continue to hold together the parts with which they are … Read More

Commercial airplanes typically rely on an environmental control system (ECM) to maintain a comfortable cabin environment. When flying at 30,000 feet, airplanes must pressurize their cabins. Pressurization allows for a safer flight experience for passengers by allowing them to breathe … Read More

Composite fuselages have become increasingly common in the aerospace industry. Some of the world’s first airplanes were designed with wood frames. Shortly thereafter, all-metal frames became the standard. While some airplanes today still use an all-metal frame, such as an … Read More

Line-replaceable units (LRUs) are commonly used in airplanes. Also known as line-replaceable items and line-replaceable components, they consist of aircraft components that can be removed and replaced on the fly. Airplanes are complex vehicles with many different components. When taking … Read More

Airplanes don’t run on the same type of gasoline as cars, trucks and other road vehicles. Whether commercial or private, most airplanes use either jet fuel or aviation fuel. They are the two most common types of airplane fuel. When … Read More

Airstairs are a common feature of many commercial airplanes From the Boeing 737 to the Airbus A320, they are used for boarding. Passengers can board the airplane by using its airstairs. What are airstairs exactly, and how do they work? … Read More