Aerospace Engineering

Ever wonder how oxygen masks work on airplanes? Before takeoff, flight attendants will typically show passengers where the oxygen masks are located and demonstrate how to use them. Because they are designed strictly for emergencies, however, most passengers never actually … Read More

When researching propeller-driven aircraft, you may come across the term “counter-rotating.” It’s used to describe the directional movement of an aircraft’s propellers. Like all propellers, counter-rotating propellers convert rotary motion into thrust. Engines generate rotary motion that turns the propellers, … Read More

Meteorologists use a variety of tools and technologies to create weather forecasts, one of which is aircraft. There are certain types of airplanes designed specifically to track weather formations. Known as storm-tracking airplanes, they allow meteorologists to make more accurate … Read More

The average speed of a commercial airliner is 460 to 575 mph. At this speed, flights from New York to London take just six to seven hours. Some airplanes, however, can fly faster than the speed of sound. Known as … Read More

An auxiliary fuel pump is a common component of airplanes with fuel-injected engines. As the name suggests, it’s designed to “pump” fuel to the engines. Upon reaching the engines, the fuel is mixed with air and ignited. This triggers the … Read More

Are you familiar with the different types of drag? All airplanes experience drag during flight. Along with weight, thrust and lift, it’s one of the four forces of flight. Drag is the invisible force that opposes objects in motion. As … Read More

Airplanes are often classified according to how many aisles of passenger seats they have. There are wide-body airplanes, and there are narrow-body airplanes. Wide-body airplanes have a single aisle of passenger seats, whereas narrow-body airplanes only have one aisle of … Read More

Locking wire offers a quick and effective way to secure fasteners. Also known as safety wire, it consists of flexible metal wire. You can wrap locking wire around bolts, screws, pins and other fasteners to prevent them from loosening. If … Read More

Relative wind is an important concept in aviation. Whether it’s a small Cessna 172 or a jumbo-sized Airbus A320, all airplanes are affected by the wind. It can affect their speed, fuel efficiency and overall performance. Pilots must understand the … Read More