A spring is an elastic object, commonly made of spring steel, that stores mechanical energy. While there are many different spring designs, the term most commonly refers to coil springs. When a conventional spring is compressed or stretched from its natural position, the spring exerts a force roughly proportional to its change in length. This change in force, divided by the change in deflection, is called the rate or spring constant. While the general function of all springs is similar, types of springs can vary greatly in characteristics, applications, and more. This blog will explain some of the most common springs, and what sets them apart from one another.

When constructing an aircraft or related equipment and systems, it is often the smallest components that are overlooked for their contribution to the entire assembly. The Federal Supply Class (FSC) 5315 Nails, Machine Keys, and Pins includes a variety of hardware fasteners that can be very useful for constructing assemblies. Fasteners are a critical component for holding together the structure of an aircraft, as well as distributing loads. In a single aircraft, almost half of the components may be fasteners, such as is the case for the Boeing 747. In this blog, we will discuss what each of these FSC components are, some of their various types, and their provided functions and applications.

A wire connector is a fastener used to make a strong, low-impedance connection between two or more Electrical Wires in an electrical box. Not only are they made from flame-retardant materials, wire connectors also prevent wires from contacting one another or contacting exposed metal surfaces, both of which could cause a dangerous failure or short circuit. Wire connectors come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and types. Their exterior cover is most commonly made from insulating plastic, though the connective pieces are tapered, coiled, metal springs or interior grooves that thread directly onto the wires, holding them securely in place. When the connector links the wires, it does so by twisting onto the end of the wires, drawing them into the metal spring and tightening them together within the spring. The Electrical Power is maintained by the wire-to-wire contact with the metal spring.

Through history, the Aircraft Fuselage structure has seen constant development as it has evolved from the basic wire braced structure of the Wright brothers to the modern semi-monocoque design of current commercial aircraft. From the choice of aircraft fuselage material to the development of new airframe structural components, each design of the modern structure was made to achieve a specific purpose. In this blog, we will discuss the modern structure of the aircraft fuselage and tail, as well as some of the fuselage designs that have been used in recent history and today.

The Aircraft engine controls, located in the cockpit of an aircraft, control and monitor all operations of an aircraft’s powerplant. In this article we will go over the basic controls used on an internal-combustion engine powering a propeller. We will find out what is involved with starting an aircraft and various controls utilized by a pilot, including important gauges that keep a pilot in the know.

Aircraft engines come in 3 different types: piston or reciprocating engines, and two Turbine Engines: turboprops and turbo fans. These engines provide efficient flight for various aircraft duties and must be considered when analyzing specific altitude and speed needs. Reciprocating engines are used for smaller aircraft, training aircraft and older transport category aircraft where higher altitudes and speeds are unnecessary. Gas turbine engines, however, are built for speed and higher flight paths. The major difference between the two are: piston engines convert pressure into rotating motion using pistons, while a gas turbine engine, or combustion turbine, uses the pressure from the exploding fuel to turn a turbine and produce thrust.

In most machinery, energy is created in a different place than it is used. The process of energy moving from the place it is generated to the place it is applied is called mechanical power transmission. Typically, this process involves creation of energy in an electric motor or internal Combustion Engine, which then gets passed to another part of the machine via linkages and transmission elements.

Most aircraft are powered by a gas turbine engine. Although each engine is made up of many intricate parts, when broken down to their base components, they are relatively simple. A gas-turbine engine’s major components are the compressor, combustion chamber, and the turbine.

Aircraft flaps are the part of the aircraft that helps create extra lift during a flight takeoff. By increasing the camber of the wing, the upper limit of lift of a wing increases and enables the aircraft to safely maintain flight at lower speeds. The deployment of flaps also differs on the type of flap that an aircraft has. The four basic types of flaps include plain, split, fowler, and slotted.

Landing gear systems are obviously critical for an aircraft to have. After all, what goes up must inevitably come back down. More than that, however, landing gear goes through tremendous stresses in terms of heat, weight, and friction during landing procedures, and must therefore be designed and manufactured to the highest standards possible. In this blog, we’ll explore the production process for landing gear, from start to finish.