Aerospace Engineering

Have you heard of light sport aircraft (LSA)? Airplanes are often classified according to their size or purpose. Airliners, for instance, are large airplanes that are designed to transport goods and passengers. Some of them have a single aisle of … Read More

The typical cruising altitude for a commercial airliner is about 31,000 to 42,000 feet. After taking off, pilots will climb to this altitude before leveling off. Pilots, however, take into account many factors when deciding the specific altitude for a … Read More

If you own or are thinking of owning a turboprop airplane, you might be wondering whether the propeller blades need to be replaced. Many aircraft parts have a finite lifespan. Landing gear tires, for instance, typically need to be replaced … Read More

Tires are an essential part of a typical airplane’s landing gear. With the exception of seaplanes, which have floats or pontoons that allow for water-based landings, nearly all airplanes have tires. Some airplanes, however, have different types of tires than … Read More

Ever wonder how in-flight internet works? Most homes and businesses leverage a landline connection. Internet service providers (ISPs) run copper or fiber optic lines to their customers, which carry data. Airplanes, of course, don’t have a landline connection, so they … Read More

Nearly all airplanes are powered by one or more combustion engines. Combustion engines are fuel-burning engines that have an internal chamber. They are designed to burn a mixture of fuel and air in this chamber, which creates hot exhaust gases … Read More

Rain isn’t the only force of nature that affects airplanes. Equally if not more impactful is wind shear. From small Cessnas to jumbo-sized commercial airliners, it affects all types of airplanes. For a better understanding of wind shear and how … Read More

Turbofans are one of the most common types of airplane engines. A type of air-breathing jet engine, they offer a unique combination of power and efficiency. Turbofans feature a ducted fan that draws air into a combustion chamber where it’s … Read More

Ever wonder if airplanes can hydroplane on the runway? Not all flights occur when the sky is clear and sunny. As long as the weather isn’t severe, many airplanes will take off and land in the rain. As a result, … Read More