Aerospace Orbit Blog

In the realm of electronics and circuitry, the terms "fuse" and "fuse resistor" are frequently encountered, and while they sound very similar, they serve distinct functions and play separate roles within a circuit. Understanding the differences between these two components is crucial for both novice and experienced electronics enthusiasts to ensure such components are used correctly. This blog aims to elucidate the disparity between a traditional fuse and a fuse resistor, shedding light on their individual characteristics and applications.

Battery holders are a simple yet crucial component in various electronic devices, playing a significant role in ensuring power source security and accessibility. Whether you are an electronics enthusiast, a DIY hobbyist, or a professional engineer, understanding the different aspects of battery holders, such as common types, mounting options, and compatibility with various batteries, is vital to the success of your projects. In this guide, we will delve into the realm of battery holders, exploring such concepts to benefit your operations and purchasing decisions.

Aviation is a world of precision where accurate and real-time data is paramount for safe and efficient flight operations. For many modern aircraft models, a system known as the air data computer (ADC) silently collects, processes, and presents critical information to pilots and avionic equipment. In this blog, we will explore the concept of the air data computer, its significance, and its role in enhancing the performance of modern aircraft.

When discussing aircraft and their capabilities of flight, the wings and engine assemblies are typically the first things that individuals give credit to. While engines and wings are indeed essential for lift and thrust, they are not the only things pilots rely on during standard operations as managing the aircraft’s attitude is also essential. In order to do this, pilots utilize what are known as aircraft flight control surfaces to govern flight attitude through the adjustment of aerodynamic devices and lift. While primary flight controls offer a great amount of management over various flight axes, secondary control surfaces improve flight characteristics and relieve pilots of excessive control forces. Two of the most notable secondary flight control surface groups are spoilers and speedbrakes, both of which are manually and automatically operated throughout flight for numerous reasons. In this blog, we will discuss spoilers and speedbrakes in more detail, allowing you to better understand their design, use, and importance.

Chargers and external power devices are often subject to in-rush current and sometimes experience voltage spikes. Both of these occurrences present a risk of damage to a circuit; therefore, most devices like them contain overcurrent protection components. Due to the greater demand for faster, more powerful charging in recent times, designers have had to put a strong emphasis on safety while being challenged by cost and size constraints, alongside more stringent efficiency requirements. To meet this demand, manufacturers may use traditional fuses which provide simple overcurrent protection, or they may choose to install fusible resistors. To learn why designers might consider the latter, read on as we compare these overcurrent protection devices.

One of the most important passive electrical components found in a wide range of circuits are capacitors. Capacitors can be divided into two broad categories: polarized and nonpolarized. As a result of their flexibility and low price points, film capacitors are the most common types.

To keep an aircraft functional and healthy, one must always be sure to routinely carry out cleaning, maintenance, and repair. With the combustion of fuel-and-air mixtures within the engine, air/oil mist may be produced and dumped overboard through the crankcase breather system based on the makeup of the engine assembly. This will often cause a collection of grunge and substances on the belly of the aircraft and other areas, making it important to control such flows. To do this, devices known as air/oil separators are used, those of which are able to scavenge oil vapors so that they can be rerouted back to the crankcase for potential reuse as well.

The wheel and brake assembly is one of the most crucial elements of a typical aircraft, ensuring that they are able to takeoff, land, and otherwise operate on ground surfaces during and between flight operations. With the immense weight of aircraft and the speeds that they land at, wheels and brakes are regularly faced with intensive amounts of stress that result in ample wear and tear over time. While the brakes and wheels of aircraft far surpass the quality and capability of those found on typical automobiles, they will still eventually break down and fail, necessitating regular inspection and maintenance to maintain health and integrity. To ensure that you can properly care for your aircraft tires and brake assembly components, we will discuss important things to know when you are preparing to conduct MRO processes.

High-speed backplane connectors are featured in a wide range of equipment, but are particularly important in networking equipment furnished with daughterboard modules. Daughterboard modules are circuit boards that plug into and extend the circuitry of another circuit board. Due to the sensitivity of such apparatuses, you must choose the right connector to maintain signal integrity when your system is deployed.

In order to perform their characteristic functions of vertical flight and hovering, helicopters rely on rotors to generate lift and thrust. The power for the rotors is generated by the engine, which can be either a turboshaft engine or a piston engine depending on the helicopter. Although piston engines have been used for longer, the release of the turboshaft engine in the late 1950s revolutionized helicopter performance. These engines are lighter, more reliable, and provide sustainable high-power output when compared to previously used four-piston cylinder engines. However, light utility helicopters still benefit from piston engines as they can still be an advantageous choice. This blog will delve into seven types of engines that have been used in helicopters from both categories so you can better understand the benefits and applications of each.