When researching propeller airplanes, you may come across the term “feathering.” It’s commonly used when turboprop engines fail. Turboprop engines are a type of gas turbine engine that turns a propeller blade. When they fail, pilots will often feather the … Read More

If you regularly travel by air, you may notice that flights take less time when traveling East in the United States. You can fly between the same two cities on the West and East Coast. Flights to the East Coast, … Read More

Hose tubing plays a critical role in many machines and systems. Consisting of a flexible and hollow conduit, it’s used to carry substances. Some types of hose tubing carry oil or fuel, whereas others carry air or gas. If you’re … Read More

Rivets have become a popular alternative to traditional threaded fasteners. They are used to hold two or more parts together — just like traditional threaded fasteners. The difference is that rivets are permanent, whereas threaded fasteners are temporary. If you’re … Read More

If you ever look at the trailing edge of an airplane’s wings, you may notice an array of small rod-like devices attached to it. These aren’t flight control surfaces. Rather, these unusual-looking appendages are static wicks. What Are Static Wicks? … Read More

Rivets play an important role in the aerospace manufacturing industry. Like all fasteners, they are used to hold two or more parts together. Rivets, however, are permanent fasteners that resist external forces like vibrations. They don’t have threading like bolts … Read More

Modern airplanes are equipped with a variety of airflow control devices on their wings. Most airplanes have slats and flaps, for instance. Slats are hinge-like devices on the leading edge of an airplane’s wings, whereas flaps are hinge-like devices on … Read More

Ever wonder why airplanes have a tailplane? From commercial airliners to commuter airplanes and military jets, most airplanes have a short lifting service on their tail. Known as a tailplane or horizontal stabilizer, it serves several purposes. Stability The main … Read More

Circuit breakers play an important role in the electrical systems of airplanes. A typical airplane has hundreds if not thousands of electrical devices. With circuit breakers, a sudden surge of current won’t damage these devices. What is a circuit breaker … Read More