Airplane Design Group (ADG) Classifications Explains

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has different classifications for airplanes. Small airplanes, for instance, fall under the Normal, Utility, Transport or Acrobatic category depending on how they are used. Airplanes in the Normal category are used for carrying passengers … Read More

What Are Crosswinds and How Do They Affect Airplanes?

Crosswinds are a concern when piloting an airplane. Very rarely do winds align perfectly with an airplane’s path of travel. Instead, winds typically move in a different direction, which can result in crosswinds. To learn more about crosswinds and how … Read More

6 Facts About Aerospace-Grade Aluminum

Composite materials have become increasingly common in the aerospace industry. Modern airplanes like the Boeing 787 are often comprised of at least 50% composite materials. Consisting of reinforcing fibers mixed with a polymer matrix, they offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio. … Read More

Quarter-Turn Fasteners vs Traditional Threaded Fasteners

When most people think of fasteners used in the aerospace industry, they envision traditional fasteners. Modern airplanes, however, are manufactured using a variety of fasteners. In addition to traditional threaded fasteners like screws and bolts, many airplanes now feature quarter-turn … Read More

What Is a Pitot–Static System in Aviation?

When researching aircraft systems, you may come across pitot-static systems. Pilots today rely on a variety of instruments to provide essential flight data. The pitot-static system is a collection of instruments that’s responsible for measuring airspeed, vertical speed, altitude and … Read More

Common Head Styles for Airframe Bolts

You can ignore the head style when shopping for airframe bolts. Most airplanes use thousands or even hundreds of thousands of bolts in their construction. Along with rivets, airframe bolts are one of the most common. They are designed to … Read More

How Torque Is Measured and Controlled When Tightening Bolts on Airplanes

Proper torque is essential when installing aircraft bolts. With their threaded body or “shank,” bolts offer a convenient way to fasten parts. You can drive a bolt through two or more parts to secure them together. When used to assemble … Read More

Understanding V1 in Aviation

Takeoffs are complex flight procedures that involve many different steps. Pilots, for instance, must calculate an appropriate speed. Airplanes must fly fast enough to generate sufficient lift. Otherwise, they won’t be able to take off. V1 is one of the … Read More

6 Facts About Aircraft Empennages

The empennage is an important part of modern-day airplanes. Also known as the tail assembly, it provides stabilization as well as pitch and yaw control. Without a tail, most airplanes would be too unstable to fly. Airplanes would essentially “swing” … Read More