Honeycomb cores first appeared on aircraft in the 1940s when they were used to reduce weight and increase payload & flight distance. They were integrated into aircraft designs as a replacement for the much heavier conventional sheet and stringer or beam support approach. Since their introduction, honeycomb cores have become a basic structural concept throughout the aerospace industry. In the 21st century, nearly every commercial and military aircraft depends on honeycomb cores for their integrity and reliability. There are many substrate materials used in honeycombs, and honeycomb cores can have densities as low as 16 kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic meter). Read more >>

The air inlet of an aircraft, also known as an intake, is an opening or structure on the body of a plane or jet that allows for air to enter into systems. As jet engines and supersonic speed aircraft were realized and improved upon, such air entrances became a required design to allow for the correct amount of air to flow into the engine. In this blog, we will discuss some of the various inlets that may be present on an aircraft, as well as how they benefit flight operations. Read more >>

The aviation warning light system is a crucial aspect in the aeronautical sector as they are used to direct pilots flying in the sky of any obstacles or potentially dangerous impediments in the cross of their flight path. Over the years, the aviation warning light system, also known as aviation obstruction lights, have evolved from what was once a simple pattern of red, blue, and green lights to a more sophisticated formula that enables pilots to navigate safely throughout the skies. In modern aviation, any structure that exceeds a certain height (usually 200 ft above ground level) is required by law to be properly marked with aircraft warning lights. These objects can include smoke stacks, wind mills, water tanks, industrial chimneys, turbines, pylons, cranes, or any broadcast masts & towers. Along with this rule, there are many other systematic rules and classifications of the warning light systems for aviation. For more information on this, read on below. Read more >>

Hydraulic systems are a widely used, reliable, and cost effective method of creating motion and actuation for various components. They can be utilized for car braking systems, aircraft flight control systems, industrial machinery, and much more. Simply put, hydraulic systems work by pressurizing liquid in an enclosed space, which in turn transfers that pressure equally through the system which can be used to perform various tasks. With hydraulics, it is important that that pressure remains equal and there is a backup in case of leakage or failure. To prevent and solve this problem, many hydraulic systems utilize hydraulic bypass valves. Read more >>

Aircraft superchargers are an important part of aircraft engines. As an aircraft reaches higher altitudes, there is less air pressure and air density, so a piston engine no longer is enough to power the aircraft. That’s where superchargers come in. Superchargers are engine-driven air pumps or compressors that provide compressed air to the engine, which then provide additional pressure to allow the piston engine to produce more power. A normal piston engine cannot have a manifold pressure higher than atmospheric pressure on its own, but with a supercharger, we can increase the pressure inside manifold by 30 “Hg. Read more >>