When performing inspections and maintenance on an aircraft, utilizing a jack is crucial for safety in order to avoid accidents, damages, and injuries. Depending on the size and model of the aircraft being worked on, there are various hydraulic jack types that may be used such as bipod, tripod, quadropod, and axle aircraft jacks. In general, tripod and axle jacks prove to be the most widely used, due in part to their offered benefits and capabilities. In this blog, we will discuss the tripod and axle aircraft jack, as well as the aircraft jack labeling system and inspection process to help you have a better understanding of jacks.
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Landing gear safety systems are crucial in ensuring the reliable operation of landing gear. As such, there are many different landing gear safety devices, mostly those that prevent the gear from retracting or collapsing while in use. Other devices do things such as communicate the position of each individual landing gear to the pilot. There are four primary landing gear system safety devices. They are the landing gear safety switch, ground locks, landing gear position indicators, and nose wheel centering. This blog will explain each of them, their role, and how they work.
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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.
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For the individuals who have worked in or with physics or the science behind movement, particularly that of various kinds of fans, there is no mistaking the distinction between the terms propeller and impeller. Ask a novice however what the difference is and they will tell you many different answers. While they are similar and though sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, there are many important distinctions that you need to know if you want to use them efficiently and properly.
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FSC 5965 is a Federal Supply Class that contains components such as headsets, microphones, handsets, and speakers that are used for aviation purposes. When procuring or replacing such equipment for aircraft operations, it can be hard to decide what is best for your given needs and what role each device plays for aircraft operations. In this blog, we will discuss the various equipment and devices included within FSC 5965 Headsets, Handsets, Microphones and Speakers, and how to make a well informed decision when it comes time to purchase.
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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.
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Obstruction lighting is an important aid in ensuring the safe flight of aviators around the world. You’ve almost certainly noticed it before, but you may not have given it a second thought. Obstruction lighting refers to the lighting atop tall buildings and structures that allows operators to see them from a distance. They are used at night and serve as an important collision avoidance measure. Towers, skyscrapers, bridges, hills, and even chimneys or antennas are all objects that could be considered aviation obstruction. Obstruction lighting is critical in illuminating these objects and creating a safe environment for flight.
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Before we can dive into how turbofan engines work, we need to first look at the core functionality of a turbojet engine. This is because the only difference between the two is an added fan placed in front of a turbojet’s core engine. This fan is encased in its own inlet and increases airspeed and thus pressure, ultimately resulting in an increase in overall exit thrust. This enhancement occurs without the need of additional fuel, making turbofans the engine standard for airliners because of their fuel efficiency. There are four main parts of a jet engine that air flow passes through that need to be explained to understand just how thrust is produced. These parts are where air enters an engine inlet and meets the compressor to, when it passes through the combustor, turbine, and exits out the nozzle.
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Aircraft spacers are used to guide wires, keep conflicting wires separated and hold wiring bundles in place. Wire organization is key in aircraft assembly to avoid electrical system malfunction and ensure the longevity of installed wiring. These spacers can be tubing, shafts, piping, or part fitters and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Their shape can be hinged, hexagonal, cylindrical or flat and some materials used in their manufacturing include steel, aluminum, brass and synthetic materials such as nylon, rubber and plastic.
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Within aircraft, there are a multitude of systems that utilize hoses. Hoses can be installed for fuel lines, hydraulic systems, brakes, oil coolers, and more. Flexible aircraft hoses in particular are important in situations where parts may be subjected to vibration or the hose system needs a lot of flexibility. In this blog, we will discuss some of the important considerations and steps that should be taken into account when purchasing and installing a flexible aircraft hose.
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