Aerospace Orbit Blog

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.

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.

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.

There are several dangers associated with flying in cold weather, specifically the concern of icing; however, pilots tend to prefer flying in colder conditions because it makes for a more efficient flight. While every season poses its own unique challenges, there are a few reasons that aircraft tend to perform better during winter. While you may not always control the timing of your flights, this blog will explore the benefits of flying in cold weather for those curious about why they prefer winter flights.

If you have ever flown in an aircraft with a window seat capable of viewing one of its wings, then you have definitely seen an aircraft’s flap track fairings in work. At first glance, if you are not familiar with their function, you might assume flap track fairings serve to hold air fuel or act as an accessory for the aileron or wing. In this blog, to better understand how these parts work, we will be covering the function and importance of flap track fairings.

While conventional copper wiring and connectors have long and reliably served countless communication and electrical power applications, newer technologies have come about which supersede their capabilities. One major competitor to such technology is fiber optic cables and fiber optic connector parts, those of which facilitate the transfer of data and power through the use of light. Generally, such technology has found use in telecommunications, internet communications, and applications related to government, defense, medical, industrial, and commercial processes. While cabling ensures the relaying of data and power, the fiber optic connector itself is imperative for proper transfer and functionality. In this blog, we will discuss fiber optic connectors, ensuring that you have ample understanding of their functionality before making a purchasing decision.

Motor drives, often simply referred to as drives, are equipment that may be paired with machinery in order to manage speed. Within the realm of industrial manufacturing, for example, assembly lines and industrial processes will typically vary in their speeds based on the product that is being worked on, and fans, pumps, and other parts will adjust their operations to facilitate a need. Motor drives fulfill this role of speed management for a variety of applications and machinery, coming in mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic, and electric types.

One of the most important aspects of flight training is learning how to properly conduct an emergency descent. While most pilots may never have to put their knowledge into practice, having the skills to perform such maneuvers safely and efficiently is extremely important and all pilots should always ensure that they are comfortable carrying the process out. In this blog, we will discuss the common method for conducting emergency descents with a single-engine piston aircraft so that you may better familiarize yourself with such procedures.

As the aerospace industry continues their commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, many operators are seeking new alternatives to replace conventional aviation fuels. While electrically powered aircraft still have some ways to go before they are widely available across global markets and applications, there are currently greener alternatives that can drastically reduce emissions resulting from flight operations. Known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), such fuel alternatives can reduce carbon emissions upwards of 80% as compared to fossil-based fuels.