How Do Airplanes Handle Turbulence?

Commercial air travel is undoubtedly the safest method of long-distance travel. Statistics show that more than 3,200 people in the United States are killed in automobile accidents every year, and an additional 20 to 50 million are injured. In comparison, … Read More

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering is the field of engineering associated with the design, development and manufacturing of both aircraft and spacecraft. It actually has two overlapping branches: aeronautical and astronautical engineering. The former refers to aircraft piloted within Earth’s atmosphere, while the … Read More

What is Turbulence?

Nearly every seasoned air traveler has experienced mid-flight turbulence at some point or another. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that turbulence is the most common cause of injury to air passengers, with approximately 58 passengers sustaining injury each year. … Read More

Comparing the Different Types of Aircraft Fuselage Structures

The fuselage is a critical component in aircraft. Typically found in the middle section, it’s responsible for securing crew, passengers and cargo. Depending on the number of engines the aircraft has, it may contain the engine as well. Furthermore, the … Read More

The Three Stages of Aircraft Design

Whether it’s a small single-engine husky or a massive Airbus A300-600ST , aircraft are designed in a three-stage process. This consists of the conceptual design phase, the preliminary design phase, and finally the detail design phase. To learn more about … Read More

Aircraft Design: 6 Things Companies Must Consider

Boeing alone manufactured approximately 700 airplanes per year — and that’s only from one company! There are dozens of other airplane manufacturers, all of whom produce aircraft. When these companies design aircraft, however, they must consider several things, some of … Read More

Boeing Creates New Metal, Stronger than Titanium

Using the right metal is critical when designing and manufacturing aircraft or spacecraft. If the metal is too heavy, it will force the engines to work extra hard during takeoff. But if the metal is too light, it may lack … Read More

SpaceX Resumes Commercial Spaceflights

SpaceX has resumed its commercial spaceflight operations, the first in four months since its failed attempt in which its rocket exploded on a launch pad off the coast of Florida. The successful launch came on January 8, with the SpaceX … Read More

Why Aluminum is Used to Build Airplanes

27% of all aluminum consumed occurs in the transportation industry, according to Aluminum Leader. This chemical element in the boron group is characterized by a silver-white color and soft, ductile texture. While it’s used in many different applications, one of … Read More