Washers are commonly used to distribute the load of threaded fasteners. When you drive a threaded washer through two or more parts, the load will be focused directly below the head. This concentrated tension can damage parts, which is where … Read More

The typical cruising altitude for a commercial airliner is about 31,000 to 42,000 feet. After taking off, pilots will climb to this altitude before leveling off. Pilots, however, take into account many factors when deciding the specific altitude for a … Read More

If you own or are thinking of owning a turboprop airplane, you might be wondering whether the propeller blades need to be replaced. Many aircraft parts have a finite lifespan. Landing gear tires, for instance, typically need to be replaced … Read More

Tires are an essential part of a typical airplane’s landing gear. With the exception of seaplanes, which have floats or pontoons that allow for water-based landings, nearly all airplanes have tires. Some airplanes, however, have different types of tires than … Read More

Solid rivets play an important role in the aerospace industry. Consisting of a cylindrical shaft and a mushroom-shaped head, they are designed to permanently hold two or more parts together. A hole is initially drilled through the parts, after which … Read More

Ever wonder how in-flight internet works? Most homes and businesses leverage a landline connection. Internet service providers (ISPs) run copper or fiber optic lines to their customers, which carry data. Airplanes, of course, don’t have a landline connection, so they … Read More

Modern-day airplanes are fitted with a variety of lights. In addition to flashing strobe lights, for instance, most of them feature beacon lamps. What are beacon lamps exactly, and why do airplanes have them? What Are Beacon Lamps? Beacon lamps … Read More

Nearly all airplanes are powered by one or more combustion engines. Combustion engines are fuel-burning engines that have an internal chamber. They are designed to burn a mixture of fuel and air in this chamber, which creates hot exhaust gases … Read More

Rain isn’t the only force of nature that affects airplanes. Equally if not more impactful is wind shear. From small Cessnas to jumbo-sized commercial airliners, it affects all types of airplanes. For a better understanding of wind shear and how … Read More