Aerospace Engineering

Of all the avionics in a typical airplane’s cockpits, few are as important as a flight management system (FMS). Pilots use it to perform a variety of tasks. What is an FMS exactly? The Basics of an FMS An FMS … Read More

With the exception of seaplanes, most airplanes feature landing gear. Consisting of nitrogen-filled tires, shock absorbers and other components, it allows them to safely land on runways. There are different types of landing gear, however, including retractable and semi-retractable. What … Read More

Air traffic has increased in recent decades. At any given moment, there are approximately 8,000 to 12,000 airplanes flying in the United States. To safely guide these airplanes and minimize the risk of collision, Air Traffic Control (ATC) assigns each … Read More

Not all airplanes have straight wings that extend perpendicular to the fuselage. While straight wings are common, some airplanes have wings that extend from the fuselage at an angle. Known as swept wings, they can extend forward or backward. Below … Read More

No airplane is complete without a fuselage. It serves as the main body of an airplane while containing the cargo and passengers. While most airplanes only have a single fuselage, however, some of them are designed with two fuselages. Known … Read More

Airplanes are often equipped with multiple hinge-like control surfaces on their wings, including flaps and slats. In their default position, flaps and slats remain flush with the wings. Pilots can lower these control surfaces, however, to increase lift or drag. … Read More

Whether it’s a large Airbus A380 or a single-engine Cessna 172, most airplanes rely on landing gear to touch down on the runway. Landing gear consists of wheeled assemblies that allow airplanes to roll on hard surfaces, such as runways. … Read More

No airplane is immune to the effects of turbulence. If you’re a seasoned flyer, however, you may have noticed that bigger airplanes typically experience less turbulence. A Boeing 737, for instance, will almost certainly experience more turbulence than a smaller … Read More

Turbofan engines are synonymous with the commercial aviation industry. With the exception of small passenger jets, most commercial jets use them as their main source of propulsion. Not to be confused with a turbojet, a turbofan is a type of … Read More