Are you familiar with the life cycle of airplanes? At any given time, there are around 15,000 airplanes in the sky. Some of them are small, such as the Cessna 172. Others are large, such as the Airbus A380. Airplanes, … Continue reading →

Flaps are a common feature of airplane wings. Located on the trailing edge, they are used to increase drag and lift. Flaps are hinged surfaces that pilots can control from the cockpit. By default, they are typically retracted so that … Continue reading →

Contrary to common belief, airplanes aren’t designed with stiff and rigid wings; they are designed with flexible wings. When flying at cruising altitude, airplanes are exposed to significant stress. The wings must be able to withstand the stress. Otherwise, the … Continue reading →

When shopping for screws, you may come across combination-head screws. They feature a pointed tip and a threaded shank. When driven into an object, the threads or “flutes” will remove material, thereby creating a hole. Combination-head screws, however, are distinguished … Continue reading →

The A380 and A320 are two of the most iconic jets in the skies. Developed by Airbus, they are used by commercial airlines around the world. While they share the same manufacturer, however, the A380 and A320 are designed for … Continue reading →

From commercial airliners and commuter jets to helicopters and space shuttles, rivets are used extensively in the aerospace industry. They are used to create permanent joints that resist vibrations and tension forces. Traditional threaded fasteners may loosen when exposed to … Continue reading →

Do you know what happens during a stall? Contrary to common belief, it doesn’t involve mechanical failure. While stalls typically result in a loss of altitude, they don’t involve the failure or engines or other mechanical components. To learn more … Continue reading →

Most airplanes and other aircraft typically use one of two types of engines: turbofan or turboprop. Turbofans are air-breathing jet engines that burn fuel and air to create hot, pressurized exhaust gas. Turboprops, on the other hand, are gas turbine … Continue reading →

Do you know the difference between MS and NAS bolts? They are two of the most common types of threaded fasteners used in the aerospace industry. MS and NAS bolts are used in commercial airliners, commuter jets, helicopters and light … Continue reading →