Cotter pins offer a simple and effective fastening solution. As shown in the adjacent photo, they consist of a narrow, U-shaped piece of metal. Cotter pins are designed for use in rods or bolts. Assuming there’s a hole through the … Read More
Ever wonder why commercial airliners have oxygen masks? Before taking off, a flight attendant will typically conduct a safety demonstration. He or she will tell passengers to fasten their seatbelt, secure their luggage and place their table trays in the … Read More
When shopping for aerospace pipe fittings, you may come across reducer bushings. They look like most other fittings. Reducer bushings have threading that allows them to connect two pipes. Only reducer bushings, however, shrink or “reduce” the diameter of the … Read More
Have you ever tried to remove a nut or bolt, only to discover that it’s stuck? Fasteners are commonly used in airplanes to hold parts together. With the exception of rivets, most fasteners are removable, meaning you can remove them … Read More
Rudders play an important role in aviation. Located on the tail assembly of airplanes, they act as a primary flight control surface. Pilots can engage the rudders to change the airplane’s yaw. Even if you’re familiar with the general purpose … Read More
Aircraft cowlings must be secured so that they don’t open or fall off during flight. Most jet-engine airplanes, of course, have removable coverings over their engines. Known as cowlings, they reduce drag, improve airflow and promote cooling. If you own … Read More
When thinking of navigation tools commonly found in airplanes, a compass probably isn’t at the top of your list. After all, most airplanes are equipped with more advanced electronic navigation tools, such as heading indicators, Inertial Navigation System (INS) and … Read More
You can’t build an airplane without fasteners. A typical commercial airliner has hundreds of thousands of individual parts. Fasteners are responsible for holding these parts together and, thus, maintaining the airplane’s structural integrity. In this post, we’re going to reveal … Read More
Sandpaper isn’t the only abrasive finishing tool with which you can use to remove surface imperfections. There are other finishing tools available, such as scuff hand pads. Developed by 3M, scuff hand pads are highly versatile. Here’s everything you need … Read More
