Aerospace Engineering

Have you heard of AN bolts? They are commonly used in airplanes. Most airplanes have thousands of fasteners, with AN bolts being one of the most common types. While they look like ordinary threaded fasteners, though, AN bolts adhere to … Read More

Airplanes contain other types of fasteners besides bolts and screws. While threaded fasteners such as these are common, many airplanes also contain rivets. Rivets are permanent fasteners that, unlike most threaded fasteners, are resistant to vibrations. Rivets are used to … Read More

Locking washers are available in different styles. There are internal and external locking washers. They both feature teeth that allow them to bite into the surface with which they are used. The placement of these teeth, however, varies. What’s the … Read More

Airplanes contain hundreds of electrical and mechanical devices. While some of these devices are complex, others are simple. Pulleys, for instance, are simple mechanical devices that are designed to apply a pulling force. Pulleys consist of one or more wheels … Read More

When shopping for aerospace fasteners, you may come across pressure plugs. They are commonly used in the construction of airplanes. Whether narrow body or wide body, countless airplanes have pressure plugs. To learn more about pressure plugs and how they … Read More

Have you heard of fire sleeves? They are commonly used in airplanes. As shown in the adjacent photo, fire sleeves consist of a hollow, sleeve-like tube. For a better understanding of fire sleeves, including why airplanes have them, keep reading. … Read More

No airplane is complete with fasteners. Depending on the size, airplanes may contain anywhere from 1 million to 3 million fasteners. Each of these fasteners is responsible for holding one or more parts in place. In addition to traditional fasteners, … Read More

The terms “fuselage” and “airframe” are often used interchangeably to describe the body of an airplane. All fixed-wing airplanes have a body. The body serves as the physical structure. Technically speaking, though, fuselages and airframes are different. To learn more … Read More

Airplanes have complex electrical systems that require a variety of different connectors. You might be surprised to learn that radio frequency (RF) connectors are used in airplanes. While commonly associated with the telecommunications industry, RF connectors have found their way … Read More