Most airplanes don’t have completely flat and smooth wings. Rather, their wings feature adjustable flight control surfaces. Elevators, for instance, are hinged control surfaces that allow pilots to control the airplane’s pitch. In addition to elevators, some airplanes feature stabilators … Read More
Washers are commonly used to protect parts from the load of threaded bolts. When driving a bolt into a part, you’ll expose the part to mechanical stress. The head of the bolt will press against the upper surface of the … Read More
Modern airplanes are equipped with a variety of control mechanisms. Consisting of knobs, levers, dials, pedals and buttons, they allow pilots to control the airplane. In addition to primary flight controls, however, there are secondary flight controls. To learn more … Read More
Have you ever noticed a small hole in the back of an airplane’s tail assembly? It’s a common feature of many commercial airliners. Being that the engines are typically located on the wings, you might be wondering what exactly this … Read More
Clipnuts offer a convenient way to secure the end of a bolt. Also known as speed nuts, they feature a hole and can be clipped onto the edge of sheet metal. Once in place, you can then drive a bolt … Read More
Modern airplanes are designed with a variety of flight control surfaces, two of which include airbrakes and spoilers. They both consist of hinged devices that, when deployed, affect flight characteristics. What are airbrakes and spoilers exactly, and how do they … Read More
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
