ASAP Aerospace Blog

Aircraft are marvels of engineering, capable of soaring through the skies with grace and precision despite their immense weight. The designs of aircraft have changed many times over the years as scientists and engineers find new materials and construction styles that benefit flight operations and safety. In this blog, we will explore the composition of modern airframes, the structural framework of aircraft that ensures their strength, durability, and performance.

Since their debut, powered aircraft have completely transformed how we conduct transportation on a domestic and global scale, enhancing accessibility to locations across the world. There are two primary categories of aircraft, those including fixed-wing and rotary-wing types. Although both forms of aircraft are used for conducting flight operations, they possess unique features that differentiate them from one another. This article will outline the fundamental differences between fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, allowing you to understand their differences and unique uses.

Helicopters are a marvel of modern engineering, and their ability to take off vertically and hover in the air is an impressive feat. But how do they do it? The answer lies in the way that helicopters create lift. To better understand this phenomenon, we will explore the science behind how these rotary-wing aircraft produce the necessary lift to achieve flight.

With the aircraft engine operating at extremely high temperatures, there is always a risk of fire in the engine bay. As such, aircraft employ a fire detection and extinguishing system for both the main engine and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). As a small engine that operates separately from the main engine, the APU is used to provide constant power to less demanding items, such as heating and air conditioning units, and as a source of electrical power for starting the engine. Nevertheless, similar to the main engine, the APU must have a fire protection system. This system is similar to the engine fire protection systems, but with several key differences. Here, we will be discussing these differences, alongside other key details about the APU fire detection and extinguishing system.

Anchor points are a necessary feature of machinery featuring cables, designed to terminate cable ends while holding them in place with ample security. In order to operate a cable’s anchor point, parts like shank balls may be used. Coming in the form of a shank and a ball, these parts allow for a simplistic, yet effective, anchor point to be established in an assembly for securing cables.

When passengers board planes, they are generally entering a specialized door known as a plug door. Unlike the doors used for cargo compartments or other aircraft sections, the plug door is specifically designed to be self-sealing, relying on the use of differential pressure to remain shut. What this means is that the higher an aircraft ascends, the more pressure there will be against the plug door. As a result, it is nearly impossible for an individual to force the door open mid-flight, ensuring safety of all.

Aircraft require air for a wide range of purposes. Luckily, they do not have to utilize separate devices or systems to generate air. In fact, planes can easily get this air from their engines, and it is referred to as bleed air. This is only the case as long as the aircraft has air-breathing turbine engines. To better understand the complexity of this type of air, we will provide a brief overview of bleed air.

One of the most important systems of a commercial airliner is the environmental control system (ECS), that of which is often overshadowed by various apparatuses and equipment in wider discussions. While some may not be too familiar with what these systems do, they are crucial for passenger and crew member safety. This is a result of the high altitudes that aircraft travel at during standard flight, atmospheric conditions often being very poor in terms of temperature, oxygen availability, and more. To keep everyone safe and comfortable during their travel, environmental control systems are used to regulate both pressure and temperature.

In aircraft that are operated by jet engines, an intake, or an inlet, the engine is required to capture and slow down the air within the engine before it reaches the combustion chamber. Not all intake ducts are created equal, as there are multiple varieties available on the market, all of which offer different advantages and disadvantages. One of the popular choices for jet engines is an S-duct intake, that of which is shaped like the letter “S” and offers unique functions. While most commercial jets and other aircraft that require an even number of engines will choose a “straight-through” duct, the S-duct was invented as a solution for trijet designs. This blog will look specifically at the pros and cons of procuring an S-duct intake for your jet engine.

Aircraft rely on a variety of fasteners to hold different parts together and in place during flight, including bolts, screws, and other threaded fasteners; however, many aircraft also rely on rivets as a vibration-proof alternative to fasteners. Rivets create secure attachments by piercing through the surface of a part or multiple parts being held together, similar to a screw with a smooth, rather than threaded, surface. In this blog, we will look specifically at a type of rivet known as a self-piercing rivet and how they function to create a steady hold for various aviation applications.