ASAP AM Spares Blog

Pilots and aeronautic fans alike may have heard of the term “bleed air,” but what exactly is it? As a byproduct produced during the combustion stage within an aircraft engine, bleed air is hot air that can be redirected and used to aid in various functions of the aircraft. Readily available, this source of energy proves beneficial for the means of enacting temperature control, pressure control, and pressure regulation. Within this blog, we will explain the functionalities of bleed air systems within modern aircraft and why they are important in maintaining key internal and external functions.

An aircraft flight control surface is an aerodynamic device that allows the pilot to control and adjust the flight attitude of an aircraft. The most commonly known flight control surfaces are the ailerons, elevator, and rudder, but these are not the only ones. However, there are also many lesser known flight surfaces known as secondary or auxiliary flight surfaces. These include the flaps, slats, spoilers & speed brakes, and tabs. This blog will cover each secondary flight surface and its function.

When constructing an aircraft, a plethora of components come together to form the various assemblies and structures that aid the vehicle in attaining flight. To achieve such complex structures that are able to withstand the various forces and stresses exerted on them during flight, highly robust components such as aircraft fasteners are used. Bolts in particular are fasteners that are used generously across aircraft assemblies, and there are various special purpose types that are implemented to fulfill specific needs and loads.

As aircraft continue to increase in weight and reach higher airspeeds, the need for better stopping power is also on the rise. Nowadays, many modern planes are unable to fully rely on aircraft brakes to sufficiently slow down within a feasible and safe distance. To aid in this endeavor, aircraft thrust reversers are implemented to help stop the aircraft during the touchdown process. In general, the two main types of aircraft thrust reversers that are used are mechanical blockage and aerodynamic blockage types.

For an aircraft engine to properly provide enough propulsion to sustain high altitude heavier-than-air flight, it requires specific mixtures of oxygen and fuel for combustion. To provide these mixtures, the aircraft utilizes a carburetor for creating the correct mixture ratios of fuel and oxygen needed for operation. As this process must be extremely accurate and precise to properly function and avoid risks, the aircraft engine carburetor is designed with advanced engineering to manage power settings, mixture control, temperature, and more. In this blog, we will discuss what an aircraft carburetor is, as well as how it provides optimal fuel to air mixtures for aircraft.

Aircraft are heavily used vehicles for worldwide travel. With over 5,000 aircraft in the air at any given moment and 2.7 million passengers in and out of United States airports in a single day, airliners have to meet quick turnarounds to keep up with busy schedules. During ground operations in between flights, cleaning and preparing the cabin for the next round of passengers is a pivotal process. From aircraft sanitization, restocking, and even security screening, there are many processes that must be quickly conducted to establish both safety and cleanliness for the many worldwide travelling passengers a day. In this blog, we will discuss how cleaning and sanitization is conducted, as well as what equipment and chemicals are used.

An important part of responsible aircraft operation is analyzing feedback from your instruments and making adjustments whenever necessary. A wide array of sensors are constantly monitoring the state of the aircraft’s flight equipment and systems as well as the flight conditions. This blog will explain each of the most important aircraft sensors in the aerospace and aviation industries.

A plain bearing, sometimes referred to as a bushing, is a mechanical component implemented to minimize friction between a rotating shaft and its stationary support pieces. They are usually made from soft metal or plastic and feature an oil film in order to support the rotating shaft on the much harder shaft journal. Plain bearings are manufactured in many types and have a variety of functions. This blog will serve to explain a bit about each type of plain bearing and their uses.

Radar is an acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging. At its simplest, an aircraft radar system consists of a transmitted radio signal aimed by an antenna in a particular direction, and a receiver that detects the echoes of any objects in the path of the signal. The transmitter consists of an electronic circuit that oscillates at a specific frequency, much higher than those used for TV or radio broadcasts. This signal is sent out in small bursts of electromagnetic energy, called pulses, through which the antenna produces a narrow beam. The distance between the target and the antenna is determined by the time it takes between transmitting the pulse and receiving the echo. Because the radar signal travels at the speed of light, which is constant, a radar system can easily determine how far away an object is and how fast it is traveling.

There are many types of wings for various aircraft. Some may be long or short, and others wide or thin. Some commercial aircraft however, may feature a curved tip at the end of the wings. These aircraft wingtips can often prove beneficial to aircraft performance, and contrary to some beliefs, they can even increase an aircraft’s lift. In this blog, we will explore the functionality of these curved wingtips and why some commercial aircraft feature them.