Airplanes no longer require pilots to manually control fuel flow. Whether it’s a small light aircraft or a jumbo-sized commercial jet, it will likely feature autothrottle. Located in the cockpit, autothrottle simplifies many fuel-based controls. What is autothrottle exactly, and … Read More

Not all airplanes are powered by a single jet engine. Most commercial airliners, in fact, are powered by two or even four jet engines. Airplanes with two jet engines are known as twinjets. A typical twinjet features two turbofan engines. … Read More

When shopping for screws, you may come across pan head machine screws. They are commonly used in aircraft. From control panels and flight instruments to electrical systems and fuselage sections, pan head machine screws play an important role in many … Read More

Ice building is a concern for airplanes powered by carburetor engines. When the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, moisture may condense and freeze on the carburetor’s throttle valve and other components. If left unchecked, icing such as this may … Read More

When researching leading-edge extensions, you may come across dogtooth extensions. The leading edge of an airplane’s wings typically isn’t straight. Instead, it has several extensions, such as a slat and dogtooth extension. Overview of Dogtooth Extensions A dogtooth extension is … Read More

Stalling is a concern for pilots. When the critical angle attack of an airplane’s wings is exceeded, the amount of lift generated by the airplane will decrease and its drag will increase. This phenomenon is known as a stall, and … Read More

Have you heard of touch-and-go landings? It’s a common flight maneuver performed by pilots in training. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), commercial pilots need 1,500 hours of training. During their training, many pilots will perform touch-and-go landings to … Read More

Airplanes today are no longer made entirely of traditional metals and alloys. Many of them now feature composite materials in their construction. Composite materials are characterized by the use of multiple materials, such as a reinforcing fiber and a matrix. … Read More

Weighing luggage is a common practice in the commercial aviation industry. Whether you’re taking a domestic or international flight, the airline will probably weigh your luggage prior to boarding. If your luggage exceeds the airline’s maximum weight, you may have … Read More