Unlimited Purchasing Blog

If you have ever been on an aircraft, you may wonder how pilots know where to go. To answer this, you must understand how aviation navigation works. Aircraft fly between imaginary vertical points called waypoints that are equipped on the aircraft GPS database. Before GPS, pilots would fly magnetic headings and timed legs, or they would utilize radio navigation beacons to acquire position information through basic instruments in the cockpit.

A toggle switch is a type of electronic switch, serving as one of the most commonplace electrical components with their simple operation and wide applicational use. In general, an electronic switch is used to achieve binary on-off control for a device, ensuring that the flow of current can be interrupted or permitted to flow with ease. Generally, this is carried out by adjusting the metallic contacts situated within the switch assembly. In this blog, we will provide an overview of toggle switches and their most common types, allowing you to see if they are an optimal fit for your operational needs. 

When the first aircraft equipped with a jet engine took flight in 1939, it brought about a revolution in aviation technology. For the first time since engine-powered flight was possible, aircraft could travel long distances at speeds previously thought impossible. Today, nearly every commercial aircraft is designed with a jet engine as its primary source of power. While there are slight variations in the particular engines used in different aircraft, only three broad categories are employed for jet aircraft. In this blog, we will discuss the turbojet, turboprop, and turbofan, which will give you a better understanding of the most commonly used jet engines in civil and military aviation.

Aircraft are often subject to countless stressors and environments, exposing their structures to degradation over time as a result of exposure to extreme temperatures, corrosive chemicals, rain, saltwater, humidity, and much more. As the airframe and the other major structures of aircraft are made from metal, corrosion is one of the most dangerous forms of damage that can occur. To best guard aircraft, all metal structures are provided corrosion resistance, that of which may come in the form of a corrosion-resistant alloy, coating, paint, or metal. Furthermore, various surface coatings may be used to further combat the onset of corrosion.

Improper lubrication in a rotating shaft for a pump or fan can result in systemic failure. Now, imagine the importance lubrication may have for a larger application like an aircraft engine. The primary purpose of using a lubricant is to reduce friction between moving parts. In an engine, lubricants have multiple functions. Lubricants play a role in engine cooling, sealing and cushioning moving parts, cleaning the interior of the engine, and protecting against the deterioration of materials. Similarly, aircraft engine cooling systems protect the engine from excessive heat damage by using a liquid coolant to dissipate heat and provide air flow. In this blog, we will be covering the importance of aircraft engine lubrication and cooling systems, their unique features, and advantages.

Trim tabs are a common addition to modern aircraft, coming in the form of small surfaces that are attached to the trailing edge of control surfaces. As a highly beneficial type of component, a trim tab serves to reduce or eliminate the need for the application of a control force in order to counteract aerodynamic forces for keeping an aircraft straight and level. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of the four main types of trim tabs, allowing you to better understand how they are used and the benefits that they bring.

It is no secret that aircraft can be an expensive vehicle to manufacture and procure, especially up and coming models with advanced features. With the average passenger airliner reaching upwards of $230 million and many single-engine planes being priced near $100,000, one may wonder why aircraft cost so much. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of the aircraft designing and manufacturing process, allowing you to better understand the reason behind the price tag of various models.

The spark plug is an essential component of countless aircraft engines, providing the sparks necessary for igniting fuel-and-air mixtures. Engine malfunctions are commonly attributable to a faulty spark plug, often resulting from a number of conditions that affect such components. To prevent the inefficient operation of spark plugs or their outright failure, aircraft owners should carry out regular inspections and maintenance practices. In this blog, we will discuss the most common causes of faulty spark plugs, allowing you to best care for your engine and its components.

The cockpit is the area of an aircraft from which the pilot controls the aircraft. It contains the instrument panel, which features the flight instruments and the controls that allow the pilot to fly the aircraft. Every cockpit features dozens of instruments, but some are more important than others. The most important flight instruments are the airspeed indicator, altitude indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, heading indicator, and turn coordinator. Together, these instruments comprise the ‘six pack’ and represent the most basic instruments found in essentially all aircraft cockpits. The six pack was first established in 1937 by the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, and has since been adopted worldwide. In this blog, we will discuss each of the six pack instruments and their unique functions.

The radar is a detection system that relies on the transmission of radio waves to discern the range, velocity, and/or angle of an object. Depending on the application, a radar may be used to detect and monitor aircraft, spacecraft, ships, missiles, weather formations, automobiles, or terrain. While radar technology now serves numerous industries and applications with its functionalities, it was not too long ago that its development was a top military secret.

Prior to the 1970s, very few aircraft had an avionics master switch for the simple reason that aircraft simply didn’t have many avionics to protect. Another reason aircraft from this era didn’t need an avionics master switch was because vacuum tube radios weren’t subject to damage from spikes in the charging system when the aircraft was started with the radios already turned on. However, that all changed when tubes were replaced by silicon. If you start the aircraft’s engine with modern, solid-state radios turned on, there is a good chance you will damage the avionics. Even if it isn’t plain to see, the damage will have been done.

The landing gear system of an aircraft is crucial to its operations, ensuring that the vehicle is capable of landing and stopping on a runway without risking damage or safety. With a plethora of moving parts that are in constant interaction and the impact forces caused by touchdowns, landing gear needs to be regularly inspected and serviced to ensure that any issue or hazard is detected and remedied as soon as possible. From cleaning parts to remove contaminants to conducting adjustments for assemblies, the maintenance of landing gear systems is thorough and requires precision to be carried out correctly.

While major aircraft accidents are extremely rare in occurrence, it is critical that investigators are always able to thoroughly determine what caused the incident so that it can be prevented in the future. With flight recorder devices placed within an aircraft, investigators can access pertinent information such as flight data, pilot conversations, and much more. In this blog, we will discuss the functionality and use of flight recorder equipment, allowing you to better understand their immense role in continuing safety efforts for aviation.

The fuel system is a crucial facet of aircraft operation, allowing for the combustion of fuel and air mixtures to achieve heavier-than-air-flight. Despite its advanced construction and robust capabilities, the aircraft fuel system is vulnerable to a variety of issues and damages that are caused by fuel contamination. Oftentimes, the contamination damage that a fuel system may face ranges from the corrosion of the fuel tank to the failure of components. As such, being aware of the common causes of fuel contamination, as well as how to prevent them, can greatly aid in the protection of the aircraft fuel system. Generally speaking, the most common contaminants that can affect the aircraft fuel system and its parts include water, particles, and microorganisms.

There are many great reasons to repair items during aircraft maintenance rather than replacing them altogether. The benefits of this include cost-saving, keeping a serviceable item in service, helping a mechanic gain business, and creating less waste. However, it is important to differentiate when a part can be repaired versus when it must be replaced. In this blog we will discuss this conundrum in further detail.

Aircraft owners all know the joy of owning their own private aircraft and having the skies at their fingertips. However, aircraft owners also know the many aircraft-related fees that pile up month after month. From hangar fees to fuel and general maintenance, yearly costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars. As such, many people look for quick and easy ways to save a bit of money. This leads many aircraft owners to ask the question “can I replace aviation oil with automotive engine oil?” The simple answer is no, but this blog will go into greater detail about the differences between the two oils and why they aren’t interchangeable.

There are various manners and methods in which mechanics can go about implementing safe aircraft turbine engine maintenance. Turbine support strategies differ generally as indicated by the plan and development of the specific motor. The point by point strategies suggested by the manufacturer ought to be followed when performing reviews or support. For more details on the procedures and the factors that affect maintenance, read the article below.

The main difference between a turboprop and a turbojet is that the former refers to a jet engine with a propeller attached to the front, while the latter is simply your standard jet engine. If you are in the market to purchase either a turboprop or turbojet, but are unsure of which to select, consider the benefits that each carry. This article will discuss more about the different benefits that each offers.

Each aircraft features a system of intricate hardware known as flight controls working in harmony to perform the tasks needed for flight. Within each flight control system, there is a primary and secondary control system. The primary Flight control system is made up of the ailerons, elevator/stabilator, and rudder. In the secondary system you will find the aircraft wing flaps, leading edge devices, spoilers, and trim systems.

As with any aircraft, fasteners are an extremely important component that enables the fixing of one part to another. Set screws are a rare form of screws that are an important fastener for when components need to be secured without any protrusions. The entire body of the screw is threaded and is headless, often being installed with an allen key or special tools. The screw is installed into a threaded hole of the two objects to prevent movement of one object relative to the other. One of the more common examples for set screw use is securing a pulley or gear to a shaft.

At high altitudes, temperatures can drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Combined with seasonally cold temperatures, heating an aircraft’s cabin interior becomes a necessity, not a luxury. Pressurized aircraft use air cycle conditioning systems that mix bleed air from the engines with cold air produced by the air cycle machine expansion turbine to obtain warm air for the cabin. Some turbine-powered aircraft not equipped with air cycle systems still use engine compressor bleed air to heat the cabin, by mixing it with ambient air, or cabin return air, and distributing it back throughout the aircraft via ducting. These bleed air heating systems are simple and function well, as long as the valves, ducting, and controls work well.

 A constant speed propeller allows a pilot to delegate specific engine speed (RPM) per stage of flight. The ability to maintain “on” speed functioning is due to a component called the aircraft propeller governor— Ello, Guv’nor! It’s the governor's job to maintain a pilot specified RPM when the blades are moving over speed or under speed. Though turbofan and turbojet aircraft require constant speed capabilities as well, the use of a governor to achieve this is most often seen in a turboprop engine.

‘Cost effective’, ‘reliable’, and ‘efficient’— all words we love to hear about an engine, and ones that aptly describe the turboprop design. Not to be confused with turbofan and turbojet aircrafts, a turboprop powered aircraft enters a class all on its own.?

An abrasive is a material used to polish and grind objects. There are many ways to use abrasives, making it a versatile and popular tool. Today we will be discussing various types of abrasives, the difference in roughness, and what their use.