Spacecraft and airplanes are intricate machines that are designed and built to precise specifications, including which alloying element works best for individual components. Aluminum, copper, and nickel are most commonly used because of their ability to resist wear and tear, their heat resistance,  and their magnetic properties. New applications have been found to utilize these metals and vastly improve existing designs. Read more >>

Every aircraft is built and maintained with a specific job in mind. It isn't possible for one aircraft to cover every characteristic a plane can have. For example, a fighter aircraft is made for defense and attack functionality. Thus, it has an extremely strong structure and is extremely powerful. Each characteristic is selected to coincide with one another, so the aircraft is built into a cohesive machine. Read more >>

When you’re in flight, the only thing separating you from the thin air outside is an airplane window. On one side, there’s a warm, pressurized cabin where you can work, watch movies, sleep — and on the other, air that is not suitable to breathe. Between the two, incredibly sturdy windows. Aircraft cabin windows and windshields are designed to withstand high pressure environments that normal windows couldn’t function in.  Read more >>

Shaft couplings are different from some other types of connectors because instead of just joining two parts, they actually transmit power from one end to the other on rotating shafts— this is their primary function. Several other features that they have are that they accommodate misalignment and create mechanical flexibility, they reduce transmission shock, and they protect against overload. Shaft couplings join two pieces of rotating equipment such as motors, pumps, compressors, and generators. Shaft couplings generally do not disconnect during operation, but there are torque limits; if exceeded, the coupling may slip or disconnect. There are numerous types of couplings styles; they support particular torque or power transmission and afford various misalignments. Read more >>

Threaded fasteners play an integral role in the operations of an aircraft. Though small in size, these fasteners are just as highly specified as any other aircraft component. There are various classifications that categorize types of fasteners and where they can be used on an aircraft. Read more >>

In frigid temperatures of 32 degrees and below, the components of an airplane can reach damaging temperatures that reduce their longevity. When an airplane is started up before it is evenly heated, it has to work much harder to get going. The extraneous efforts can cause wear and tear on mechanics that can reflect 100 to 500 hours of operation. Uneven heating can detrimentally affect pistons, cylinders, camshafts and other components. In a cold weather predicament, it is important to have an aircraft preheating method. Read more >>

How do Electromechanical Relays Work?

To put it simply, an electromechanical relay is essentially just a switch. However, relays are controlled by electromagnets, whereas switches are manually actuated. They are used in a control circuit when a low power signal is required, or when several circuits need to be controlled. Inside the relay, a small current is used to create a magnetic field within the coil. This magnetic field is used to switch or control a much larger current. Relays come in a variety of sizes and can use different technology, but they operate with the same basic concept that makes them an electromagnetic relay. Read more >>

Also known as a “gas turbine” or a “combustion turbine”, the turbine engine is a type of internal combustion engine categorized by its use of a special type of oxidizer mixed with fuel and combusted in a carefully designed combustion chamber. Turbine engines convert energy into a type of mechanical-based motion to power aircraft, trains, ships, electrical generators, pumps, gas compressors, and tanks. Read more >>

The pyramids of ancient Egypt, barstools, gearsets in car transmissions, and the earthquake-proof San Francisco International Airport all have one unlikely thing in common: bearings. While relatively simple to understand, the difference that using a bearing makes can be massive. And the reason is simple: according to basic physics, things that roll meet less frictional resistance than things that slide. Aptly named, bearings “bear” the load by using smooth metal for the balls or rollers, and the inner and outer surfaces they roll against to minimize the contact area and allow for less friction and smoother movement. Read more >>

Piston engine, or reciprocating engines, are related to the steam engine, which was first introduced in the early 17th century. In simpler terms, a steam engine utilizes heat to create stream pressure, which is then used to generate a rotating motion. After its creation, steam engines were used to drive everything ranging from mechanical equipment to railway trains. Today in aircraft piston engines, gas propulsion is used instead of steam to create pressure inside the engine. Read more >>