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There are many different types of aircraft valves that can be used for the aircraft engine. While they each have different physical characteristics and serve different purposes, the aircraft valves tend to operate in a similar fashion. For example, the valves in the cylinders of an aircraft engine must endure severe conditions, including high temperatures, corrosion, and operating stresses. For this reason, metal alloy is often used in most valves so that they can resist and withstand being subject to extreme factors. However, some valves, such as intake valves, must function at temperatures lower than exhaust valves, and can thus be made of chromium-nickel steel. On the other hand, exhaust valves can be built of nichrome, silchrome, or cobalt-chromium steel because these materials are much more heat resistant. For more information on the different aircraft valve types, see below for more information.
Learn MoreWhen constructing an aircraft or other complex machines that undergo heavy stress during operation, bearings are an extremely useful hardware component to have for assembly. Bearings are mechanical components that mitigate friction caused by parts moving within a system, as well as allow for transfer of axial and radial loads across components. There are various types of bearings that can act for a wide amount of applications, and some examples include the bush bearing, pillow block, thrust bearing, and antifriction bearing (ball and roller bearings).
Learn MoreWithin the realm of computing, microprocessors are an integral technology that has constantly pushed the limits of computer hardware and capability throughout their history. At their most basic, microprocessors are integrated circuits that encompass the central processing unit (CPU) and work to translate inputted binary data into outputted data. The amount of microprocessor assembly parts, such as transistors have gradually increased, allowing technological advancement from 4-bit to 64-bit technology over their history, greatly increasing the complex processes that the microprocessor can handle. Microprocessors can also serve a variety of applications, ranging from controlling elevators to operating complex computer systems.
Learn MoreThe future of commercial in-flight passenger experience is one of both technology advancements and engineering achievement. With the invention of virtual reality in 1957 to now the most advanced VR headset, the StarVR One, Airbus -- a leading name in the commercial passenger service -- recently patented a Virtual Reality Helmet for its passengers. The helmet will offer sensorial isolation and endless entertainment possibilities that would make the flight time on a normal US coast to coast flight, literally, fly by.
Learn MoreAn aileron is the hinged surface in the outermost trailing edge of an airplane wing, designed to control the lateral balance of the plane as it cruises through flight, or during its roll. The ailerons and how they function in relation to the aircraft is something that every pilot and/or aircraft enthusiast should know. Read on below for a basic outline of how the ailerons function.
Learn MoreAs a natural side-effect of combustion, piston engines generate large amounts of heat that needs to be managed. An engine’s internal components are cooled by the oil system, but the external components, such as the cylinder heads, need to be cooled as well. While some engines feature water cooling systems and radiators, most general aviation aircraft use air cooling introduced by the cowling at the front of the front of the engine compartment, and a system of baffles within the compartment to distribute air.
Learn MoreWith every component that comes together to create an aircraft, it is actually one of the smallest components, the fastener, that remains one of the most important parts to the entirety of the structure. A Boeing 747-800, for example, is comprised of 6 million parts, half of them being fasteners. Much like a fastener that one may find at a hardware store, the part’s functionality at its most basic is to join or affix two or more components together in a non-permanent fashion so that the objects could be later separated. Unlike their hardware store counterparts, however, aviation fasteners are held to a much higher standard, and are specifically engineered with precise specifications to ensure they withstand the demands of high altitude flight. Fasteners are important beyond holding components together, also providing the benefit of taking on and redistributing structural loads.
Learn MoreThe United States military is a massive purchaser of goods. Tanks, jets, and weapons of war are the most obvious things the Department of Defense requires, but the military is also a leading purchaser for things like storage solutions, electronics, hardware of all shapes and kinds, service and repair tools, and more. But in the military, everything must be standardized for the sake of reliability, commonality, and compatibility between various systems, allowing maintenance crews to swap out components at a moment’s notice. MIL-SPEC is the set of specifications that the military has set for a particular component, with most of the component’s design rights owned by the government. MIL-SPEC certified equipment is manufactured by various companies to the specifications needed to sell to the Department of Defense and its various contractors.
Learn MoreAll modern computers, from business servers to personal laptops to high-end gaming PCs, depend on microprocessors to function. Also known as a CPU or central processing unit, a microprocessor is a complete computation engine that has been fabricated onto a single chip.
Learn MoreLike all complex machinery, aircraft design is highly iterative. Blueprints will be drawn and redrawn dozens of times over the course of an aircraft’s development, and this holds true for an aircraft’s pylons as well. The pylon, the structure that attaches the aircraft’s engines to its wings, is a critically important part of the fuselage, and so goes through multiple iterations.
Learn MoreGiven how complex modern aircraft are, it’s only appropriate that inspections and maintenance procedures are exhaustive. With so many pieces of equipment, safety requires persistent vigilance from both the pilot and the technician. Routine check-ups can also ensure a properly functioning aircraft—avoiding costly repairs down the line.
Learn MoreA deicing boot is an important component involved in removing ice from the exterior of an aircraft. It is a type of ice deterrent system that enables mechanical deicing while an aircraft is in flight. Deicing boots are typically installed on the outer edge of a wing, where the likelihood to accumulate ice is much greater. A buildup of ice can significantly impair the aerodynamics of an aircraft, leading to safety risks.
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