Latches are mechanical components that permit the temporary combination of moving parts, and they are actuated so they release the coupling and permit these two components to come apart. Moreover, advantages to using latches include their high-speed design, lower power requirements, and small die-size. Often utilized in seat belts, clamps, straps, and objects featuring retractable components, latches are available in many forms. To better understand these versatile components, the following blog will go into greater detail about trigger latches and pertinent information associated with them. Read more >>

As the aviation industry has progressed through the years, much of the early technology used by pilots has been combined, and replaced with a single digital interface called the electronic flight instrument system (EFIS). This system is used in modern aircraft, and it combines several different sensors, circuitry, and software to effectively replace all mechanical flight instruments and gauges with a single unit. In this article, we will be discussing the different components of the EFIS in detail, so that you may better understand the crucial instruments which make up our modern “glass cockpit.” Read more >>

O-rings are circular mechanical gaskets designed to sit in a groove and be compressed when assembling two or more parts, creating a seal at the interface. They are commonly employed in static or dynamic applications, like rotating pump shafts or gas sealing applications, respectively. More than that, O-rings are the most common seals used in machine design due to their low price points, easy manufacturing processes, and simple mounting requirements. Read more >>

Thyristors are small electronic elements that have been around since the 1950s, and they are often relied on for the means of managing significant amounts of voltage and power. Serving various roles, thyristors can be found in electric power control devices, electric motor speed controls, light dimmers, and much more. While thyristors once primarily acted as an element that turns devices through current reversal, they now are able to turn devices on and off with the use of a control gate signal. With the diverse applications of thyristor components, it can be useful to have a general understanding of their design and functionality. Read more >>

Turbofans are one of the most common types of engines found in modern aircraft models, generally being found on commercial airliners, various military planes, business jets, and more. Turbofans combine many of the best features of propeller and turbine engines, and their popularity comes as a result of their high thrust generation and optimal fuel efficiency. If you have taken the time to examine the turbofan engines of a commercial airliner at an airport or on another type of aircraft, you may have noticed that most have a white spiral that is painted on the center of the spiral. While this design is surely aesthetically pleasing, it actually serves a few important purposes, those of which we will discuss in this blog. Read more >>

Physics is the science that aims to describe and quantify natural phenomena. While some argue that physics is the science upon which every other discipline is built, there is no doubt that it is of predominant concern in aviation. In fact, every second of a flight can be modeled and described using the concepts of physics. If you are interested in aviation, this blog will prime you on some essential physics ideas on how engineered flight is achieved. Read more >>

Removing an aircraft's engine is not an easy feat. In fact, releasing a single engine on a Boeing 747 requires over 30,000 connections to be undone, and any mistake could lead to costly damages. When is it then appropriate or necessary to remove an aircraft's engine for replacement or repair? In this blog, we will highlight some of the circumstances in which it is required to remove this critical component. Read more >>

A helicopter is a common form of rotary-wing aircraft, capable of generating the lift and thrust needed for flight with the use of horizontally-spinning rotors. With such vehicles, pilots may achieve vertical takeoffs and landings, hover in the air, and fly forward, backward, and laterally as desired. With these capabilities, the helicopter may be operated in countless areas and dense cities where a conventional fixed-wing aircraft would be unsuitable. In order to achieve the various flight capabilities of a standard helicopter, pilots rely on a set of controls that enable management of flight systems, surfaces, and more. In this blog, we will discuss the four main controls of a helicopter, those of which are the collective pitch control, throttle control, antitorque control, and cyclic pitch control. Read more >>

Lift is the aerodynamic force that allows for aircraft to fly, resulting from the shape of wings as the fluid pressure of air will begin to differ on the top and bottom of the aerofoil during forward movement. While wings are the primary structure relied on for achieving and maintaining lift, high-lift devices are components or mechanisms that may be added onto an aircraft wing for the means of increasing the amount of lift produced. Increased lift can be very useful in many situations, allowing a pilot to lift off with reduced speeds and distances, or safely land in a similar fashion. Coming in a variety of forms which present varying characteristics and uses, it is important that any current or prospective pilot is familiar with the most common types. Read more >>

During flight, aircraft tend to operate at extreme altitudes in which low air pressure and oxygen density is prevalent. If crew members and passengers are exposed to such conditions without ample protection, hypoxia can quickly ensue. To keep all individuals aboard an aircraft safe and comfortable, various oxygen systems may be used. While many airliners and business jets will utilize pressurized cabins and their related oxygen systems, other aircraft require different solutions that often come in the form of portable oxygen units. As there are multiple portable oxygen systems that provide different functionalities, it can be highly beneficial to understand each. Read more >>