Though they are some of the smallest components on aircraft, the nuts and fasteners serve the major function of holding together all of the components that make up the whole. To meet all these various demands, there are a large number of hardware types employed in airplane construction, including nuts, washers, cotter pins, and more. While many of these items can be found in a hardware store, it is imperative and required that those used on aircraft are aviation grade to ensure that they can withstand the vibrations, pressure changes, temperature shifts, and other harsh conditions that they may be exposed to during each flight. Here, we will be discussing a few of the important nuts and fasteners used in aircraft construction to create a reliable hold.
