The rudder is one of the most important control surfaces used to direct a ship, boat, submarine, aircraft, or any other vehicle that moves through air or water. The rudder is an important component in ensuring safe flight, preventing unwanted roll and yaw as well as uncontrolled banking. Mastering rudder control will make you a better pilot and give you the tools to control your aircraft through inclement conditions.
If you have been on an aircraft flight before, you may know that passenger cabins can get very chilly or even very stuffy and hot depending on the flight. With one simple twist of the overhead fan, air conditioning (A/C) can make your ride much more of a pleasant experience. But how does this seemingly simple solution to our flight comfort actually work?
A phototransistor is an electronic switching and current amplification component that relies on exposure to light to operate, much like how normal transistors rely on electricity to operate. When light falls on the junction of a phototransistor, reverse current flows in proportion to the luminance of the light. This makes phototransistors excellent at detecting light pulses and converting them into digital electrical signals. Unlike normal transistors, they are operated by light rather than electric current, and provides a large amount of utility for a low cost.
Field effect transistors (FETs) are used to amplify weak signals, mostly wireless signals. This is useful for aircraft, that often operate dozens if not hundreds of miles away from the signal’s source. A field effect transistor is a type of transistor that alters the electrical behavior of a device using an electric field effect to control the electrical conductivity of a channel. FETs are classified into JFET (Junction Field Effect Transistor) and MOSFET( Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor). Both are mainly used in integrated circuits, and are similar in operating principles, but different in composition.
Multiple instruments inside an aircraft’s cockpit are dependent on AC transducers. Transducers include synchros, resolvers, and linear/rotary variable differential transformers (LVDTs/RVDTs) and are used in numerous applications including navigation reference units, automatic direction finders, distance measurement equipment, and landing gear position and control. Synchros have been used in both commercial and military purposes; they are the transducer of choice when reliability is important and environment conditions are unforgiving.
Preheating your engine can increase longevity — especially if you’re operating in temperatures below 32?. Metals expand and contract as temperature fluctuates, and each metal does this with varying rates of expansion and contraction. Steel and aluminum have drastically different expansion properties which can affect the clearances in critical parts of the engine. In colder environments, aluminum will contract approximately twice as much as steel. In hotter climates, aluminum will expand twice as much as steel. This is the most critical reason for engine preheating - engine component clearances.
An aircraft heating system is integral for safe operation of an aircraft. In the duration of its flight cycle, an aircraft will encounter volatile temperature changes and a heating system can help ensure all aircraft components maintain their necessary temperature for efficient and reliable operation. Two heating systems that are frequently utilized in aviation are exhaust heaters and combustion heaters. The systems share one similarity— both utilize the heating of ambient air, or ram air. Let’s take a look at how these heater systems work.
Exhaust systems are undoubtedly the bowels of any vehicle, automobile, or aircraft. The main function of the exhaust system is to allow for the smooth propulsion of gas emission from an engine out to its surrounding environment. This allows for proper gas exchange to take place in order to optimize fuel usage and energy output. In theory, this function could be performed by any metal tubing that leads from the engine to the tailpipe, however, there are many other requirements that must be considered in order for an exhaust system to function effectively. According to Federal Aviation Association (FAA) regulations, the exhaust system of an aircraft must be able to withstand high temperatures, corrosion, vibration and inertia loads, and must have means for flexibility in addition to performing its typical roles.
