Aerospace Engineering

Airplanes have revolutionized the way in which we travel. At any given time, there are up to 20,000 airplanes in the skies. Airplanes allow passengers to quickly travel long distances. Of course, there are manufacturing companies that are responsible for … Read More

Airplane cabins don’t consist entirely of recycled air. Depending on the type of airplane, it may only recycle about half of this air. The other half consists of fresh air. Being that cabins are pressurized — and, therefore, sealed — … Read More

Airplanes consist of more than just a fuselage, wings and landing gear; they also have an empennage. Unless you’re familiar with aviation mechanics, though, you might be wondering what is an empennage. All airplanes have an empennage. Along with the … Read More

Wings are an essential component of all airplanes. Whether it’s a small private airplane or a jumbo-sized commercial airplane, they need wings to generate lift. There are differences in air pressure between the top and bottom of an airplane’s wings. … Read More

The speed and direction in which the wind blows can affect an airplane’s ability to land. If the wind is moving perpendicular to the runway at a relatively fast speed, pilots must adjust the airplane accordingly. Otherwise, they may land … Read More

The wings of airplanes are designed in a specific shape to achieve the greatest amount of lift. Known as an airfoil, it’s a common feature of nearly all commercial jets as well as propeller-driven airplanes. With their use of an … Read More

Airlines typically require passengers to open their window shades during takeoffs and landings. Once an airplane has reached cruising altitude — 31,000 to 38,000 feet — passengers can close them. At lower altitudes, though, passengers must keep their window shades … Read More

Regardless of their respective size, airplanes must stay within a certain angle to maintain lift. If they exceed this limit, their lift will decrease. This can lead to a phenomenon known as a stall. When an airplane stalls, it will … Read More

Jet engines are used to power airplanes of all shapes and sizes. When compared to propeller engines, they have a greater power output, thereby allowing for faster flight speeds. Not all jet engines are the same, however. While all jet … Read More