Aviation Purchasing Platform Blog

To keep flying safe, aircraft are carefully manufactured to endure the harsh environment present at 30,000 feet in the air. At this altitude, temperatures tend to range from minus 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and aircraft are exposed to turbulence, ultraviolet sunlight, moisture, and other external factors. To protect them from damage caused by these conditions, aircraft are constructed with a membrane-like barrier called skin. Read on to learn more about how airplane skin is created and used to keep aircraft safe from high-altitude environmental dangers.

Whether for aviation or any other industrial applications, fasteners must be strong and reliable in order to hold assemblies together. As such, there are countless fastener types available for varying purposes, ranging in different sizes, shapes, materials, and more. A very popular choice across industries is to use a nut and bolt configuration; the bolt is a male fastener intended to mate with the nut or female fastener. Nuts are internally threaded to allow for the insertion of bolts, and they vary in types across applications. While all bolts have circular openings, hex nuts are a specific type of nut with a hexagonal exterior. For your better knowledge, this blog will explore some popular types of hex nuts used across industries.

If you have ever sat in the window seat of an airplane, you will know that airplane windows are small and sealed shut; however, there is a tiny, often overlooked detail of all airplane windows that serves an important purpose: a small hole at the bottom. Also known as bleed holes, these aspects of aircraft windows allow us to breathe at the high altitudes of flight by keeping the cabin pressurized. In order to maintain proper air density, aircraft have systems in place to keep pressure levels steady. In the following blog, we will take a closer look at how this is accomplished and the vital role of the tiny hole.

Bleed valves are small but integral pieces of fluid transportation and storage equipment that are used to release a precise amount of liquid or gas in a system. Typically, they are found in pipelines, storage tanks, and pumps where pressure tends to build up or leak during regular use. By releasing trapped liquid or gas, bleed valves ensure that pressure surges are controlled or eliminated to prevent damage to the system. Moreover, bleed valves are also regularly used for maintenance and inspection with little disruption to a fluid network. By understanding how these essential devices work, one can ensure the proper installation and use of bleed valves in their fluid system.

When flying in an aircraft, whether commercial or military, an emergency exit is a crucial feature that the plane should possess. Thus, for safe travels in the present, most commercial planes like the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 include multiple exits in addition to the traditional emergency exit. One such emergency exit is the overwing exit, that of which can be found near a trailing edge of an aircraft wing, allowing passengers to leave the plane in case of emergency. The trailing edge is the rear edge of an aircraft's wings where passengers can utilize an overwing exit if present, hence its name. The overwing exit is a self-help exit and can be operated by passengers in the case of an immediate evacuation using slides from the extended flaps or through an evacuation slide that deploys when the door is opened. Aircraft have 90-second evacuation rules, which sometimes is not possible with the main doors, and using a traditional emergency door is not required; in such cases, overwing exits come into play. They are typically smaller than traditional standard emergency exits due to their smaller width and height, and the passenger seated next to the overwing exit is responsible for opening the exit gates.

Woodworking machinery is useful for numerous applications, allowing for wood pieces to be cut, drilled, sawed, finished, and more. Depending on the type of machine that is being used for a particular operation, it is crucial that one enacts robust safety measures to avoid the high risk of injury that is pervasive in such procedures. Often, the most accidents occur with circular saws, wood shapers, and surface planners, thus one should familiarize themselves with common tools and how they may be best used.

When measuring electricity for various properties, ground or earth often serves as an optimal reference point. Known as grounding or earthing, earth acts as a common return path for electrical current or may provide a direct physical connection to the electric charge. For true earth ground, such conditions are defined as when a conductive pipe or rod is inserted into the earth with a minimum depth of 8 feet. Due to the electrically neutral state of earth, there is a lack of electrical wavering which makes earth both a good reference point and a way to make electrical operations safer.

Whether an engine is used for a marine vessel, aircraft, automobile, or other vehicle type, fuel filtration is extremely important for the protection and well-being of the fuel system and engine. Improperly filtered fuel can lead to contamination in the form of fluids or substances, all of which pose a risk to the operation of an engine. As fuel injectors and fuel injection pumps feature constricted orifices, contaminated fuel can quickly lead to damage and obstructions which can result in inefficiency of the engine turbine, inoperability, or a costly engine breakdown. As a result, it is crucial that marine vessel operators and owners fully understand the importance of marine fuel filtration and how it is upheld.

While early aircraft relied on conventional gauges, dials, and equipment to convey operational characteristics to the pilot and permit system management, modern systems have now revolutionized such instruments and aircraft equipment with the implementation and use of electronic parts and components. Avionics is a term that stands for aviation electronics, encompassing the various electronic systems that aid in communications, navigation, and the display and management of numerous flight systems. While serving the same use for pilots in regard to managing various systems and assisting in operations, Aerospace avionic systems have multiple benefits that set them apart as a more robust and beneficial option for aircraft.

Power tilt and trim units are electro-hydraulic mechanisms that are commonly used for marine outboard engines in order to achieve hydraulic pressure. Utilizing motor-driven gear pumps, the mechanism allows for a smoother ride as the angle of the motor may be adjusted. As an essential component for achieving high motorboat performance, it is important that owners regularly maintain their units in order to prevent damage or issues.