Gas turbines are the most common method used to power modern aircraft and generate thrust. As a form of combustion engine, gas turbines typically consist of a centrifugal air compressor, combustion chamber, and a large turbine which is rotated by the force of expanding gas during combustion. To safeguard the combustion process from potential faults, there are several control systems at work in the engine. These control systems include the lubrication of the oil system, and fuel system, alongside the fire, gas detection, and suppression system. Such systems come with their own set of processes which will be covered here, along with some helpful information for buying gas turbine system parts.

O-rings find use in countless applications for being simple sealing solutions. Not only do they seal moisture and environmental contaminants out, but they also separate surfaces to prevent friction, and keep in essential fluids/lubricants. Despite their general simplicity, O-rings used in the aerospace sector display an unexpected level of complexity that should be factored in when making a purchasing decision.

Aircraft designs today have come a long way from where they started with the first flight in 1903. The beginning of man-made flight was characterized by many accidents and tragedies, but safety quickly became a top priority for early aerospace engineers. In the process of creating a sturdy, airworthy design, wing-twisting was discovered. Many early wing designs were ill-equipped to withstand the bending forces resulting from aerodynamic lift that keeps the aircraft aloft, and aircraft wings snapping off during changes in direction was a recurring issue. To better understand the physics behind this major obstacle of early flight, we will explore the discovery of divergence and how aircraft engineers eventually overcame the issue of wing-twisting.

Known as the “six-pack” because of the three-on-three placement, most aircraft have 6 main flight instruments that help pilots fly. There are two categories of flight instruments, the static or pitot-static, and the gyroscopic. Pitot-static instruments include the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator. Gyroscopic instruments include the attitude indicator, heading indicator, and turn coordinator.