Aerospace Engineering

T-tail empennages are undoubtedly popular. They are characterized by their T-shape design consisting of a single vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer. All airplanes have an empennage. Also known as the tail assembly, it’s the structure on the back of … Read More

Wire strikes are a concern for helicopters. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), they account for nearly 6% of all single-turbine helicopter accidents and a little over 4% of all twin-turbine helicopter accidents. Wire strikes often involve power … Read More

When researching the different types of aircraft aluminum, you may come across 7178-T6 and 7079-T6. Aluminum is often used in the construction of airplanes. Roughly 80% of a typical Boeing 737, in fact, consists of aluminum. Airplanes don’t use ordinary aluminum, … Read More

A typical commercial airplane features several types of exterior lights. In addition to tax lights, for instance, most of them feature landing lights. When preparing to land at night, pilots will use these lights to improve their visibility. What Are … Read More

When most people think of spoilers, they envision the wing-like appendages on the back of cars. Many cars, particularly sports cars, feature a spoiler. By incorporating this aerodynamic appendage into their design, they benefit from improved braking at high speeds … Read More

When inspecting the leading edge of an airplane’s wing, you may notice that it has small wedge-shaped strips. Known as stall strips, they change the wing’s aerodynamic properties. For a better understanding of stall strips and how they work, keep … Read More

Airplanes have changed the way in which we travel. Since their origins in the early 20th century, they’ve opened the doors to faster and more convenient transportation. While most airplanes have a wheel-based landing gear system that requires them to … Read More

When researching the different types of lifting devices found on airplane wings, you may come across Kreuger flaps. They are commonly found on large commercial jets, such as the Boeing 707 and 747. Like all lifting devices, Kreuger flaps generate … Read More

Seats are an important part of all airplanes. While small airplanes like a Cessna 172 have about a half-dozen seats, larger airplanes have up to 300 seats — sometimes even more. Here are five fun facts about airplane seats. #1) … Read More