Airplanes are typically painted for both aesthetics and functional purposes. It allows commercial airlines to display their logos and other forms of branding while also protecting airplanes from environmental-related damage. There are several different types of aircraft paint, however, each … Continue reading →

Ever wonder how airplanes are able to land without skidding? It’s not uncommon for airplanes to touch the runway at speeds of up to 180 mph. In some cases, pilots must also deal with inclement weather. Most airplanes, however, are … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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, … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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? … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →