What is a gearbox? Aside from being a horribly expensive thing to repair and replace, of course. The transmission box, or gearbox, is the second element of the powertrain in an automobile or any vehicle that uses an internal combustion engine, with the first being the engine. It is used to change the speed and torque of the vehicle according to the conditions of the road and the load the powertrain is trying to carry. Transmission boxes change the engine’s speed into torque when climbing hills and other situations that require it. Read more >>

As commercial aircraft have gotten larger and heavier, the need for stronger aircraft braking system has only grown greater. In moments of mechanical failure or malfunction, the emergency braking systems are critical in bringing the aircraft to a safe and controlled stop. Read more >>

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) have come a long way from the novel, bug-like machine buzzing through the air. Many different industries use UAVS for mapping, recording, and delivery applications. Because of the breadth of uses, UAVS come in many different shapes and sizes. The US military uses drones such as the Predator that resemble small fixed-wing aircraft. In comparison, drone hobbyists favor drones such as the Tomahawk, a rotary-wing UAV. Read more >>

There are many different wing designs, shapes, and sizes, with each variation fulfilling a certain need in respect to the performance of the aircraft. The wings are attached to either side of an aircraft fuselage and are the main lifting surfaces that support the plane in flight. Wings can be attached at the lower, middle, and top portion of the fuselage. Some wings are angled back, some curve up, while others have fixed wings. Read more >>

The term, glass cockpit, sounds like a follow-up to The Glass Menagerie, but it’s really just a souped-up term to describe the large glass displays that help pilots monitor their avionics while in flight. Also known as flight management systems (FMS), the screens provide critical details to the cockpit including flight info, cautions and warnings, and procedural steps. Most modern aircraft are equipped with avionics screens of some sort, also referred to as a technically enhanced cockpit. Alerting systems are one of the valuable components of avionics that utilize the visual aid of the glass cockpit. Read more >>

Unfortunately, even though it would make the hydraulic system stronger and more reliable, you can't just weld a hydraulic system together. Instead, you have to use fittings and flanges, some of the most useful components of a hydraulic system. But, with so many different options to choose from, it's important to know the difference in order to determine which is best for your needs. Read more >>

In order to secure the aircraft engine to the airframe or fuselage and evenly distribute the stresses and vibrations caused by the engine, we use engine mounts. Aircraft Engine mounts are lightweight steel tubes welded together to form strong and stable structures to house aircraft engines. Aircraft engines of the same type or manufacturer will often use the same engine mounts. However, you can choose to weld your own instead of buying a pre-made one. Here are some shapes to consider. Read more >>

Lubrication, of any engine, is vital to its effective functioning and longevity. Without proper engine lubrication, you risk engine malfunctions and extreme wear and tear. This holds especially true for aircraft engines. Other functions of lubricants include cleaning, cooling, sealing, and fighting corrosion and rust that could plague the engine if left unused or untreated for prolonged periods of time. Lubricants' amazing ability to keep engines clean is a major benefit. While the lubricant keeps the engine clean, it also maximizes efficiency of the engine to make sure you're getting the maximum output your engine is capable of. Read more >>

In regard to airplanes, a tailwheel aircraft or a taildagger alludes to the position of the landing gear on an airplane. An aircraft with a tailwheel, which can also be identified as a conventional gear, is designed with the aircraft's two main landing gears set towards the front of the airplane's center of gravity. It can also be set at the front of the aircraft, where a single "tailwheel" is in the back of the airplane to support the airplane's tail. Read more >>

ATR, a Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer and a parent company to Leonardo DRS, a defense contractor, recently announced its rejection of the 100-seat turboprop. Leonardo has been working for several years with Airbus on the plan; however, the agreement was taking too long, so Leonardo opted out. Leonardo will now invest all its resources into its existing ATR 42 and 72 models. Read more >>