Wire connectors come in a variety of styles. Some of them require nothing more than twisting, such as wing nut connectors. After stripping about 1 inch of insulation off the ends of both wires, you can place the exposed ends … Read More
Landing gear assemblies consist of more than wheels and shock absorbers. From small commuter jets to jumbo-sized commercial airliners, most aircraft landing gear assemblies feature torque links as well. They play an important role in stabilizing the wheels during takeoffs … Read More
Air traffic control (ATC) is synonymous with airports. Consisting of specialists known as “controllers” who operate out of towers, ATC communicates with incoming and outgoing aircraft to ensure safety. Their primary purpose is to maintain separation between all aircraft. While … Read More
Masts are typically associated with marine vessels like ships and boats. Consisting of vertical posts, they are used to hold sails or equipment. Airplanes may not have these same vertical posts, but many of them do have drain masts. What … Read More
Takeoffs require a substantial amount of thrust. While smaller commercial jets like the Boeing 737 weigh around 90,000 pounds, larger jets like the Airbus A380 weigh over 1 million pounds. To become airborne with all this weight, airplanes must produce … Read More
Leaving electrical connectors and ports uncovered may seem harmless enough, but it can lead to connectivity issues down the road. Fortunately, dust caps offer a solution. These small and simple accessories form a physical barrier over electrical connectors and ports. … Read More
If you’ve ever stepped into a cockpit, you may recall seeing a collection of small lights. Known as indicator lights, they provide pilots with real-time insight into various systems. Some indicator lights are mounted on annunciator panels, whereas others are … Read More
Climbing is one of the most important phases of flight. As you may know, it involves an airplane ascending or “climbing” to a higher altitude. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) typically requires airplanes to fly at least 1,000 feet … Read More
A bolt alone isn’t always enough to hold two or more parts together. While some bolts are self-anchoring, such as lag bolts, most require a nut. You can drive a bolt through the parts. You can then twist a nut … Read More
