Search

Whether a part on your aircraft is damaged or worn, it's logical to look to the aftermarket for a replacement. While the buying decision might be based on the high [...]

For the last 20 years or so, Ingersoll Milling Machines (Rockford, Illinois) has used modular fixturing to hold for machining the many one- and two-of-a-kind components that go into its [...]

The article discusses aircraft fuel systems and their importance in the safe operation of the aircraft and for troubleshooting problems.

Machine parts manufacturer Middleton Aerospace produces titanium retainer/seal for jet engine compressors. The super alloy titanium is very flexible reducing the weight of the thin-walled jet engine. The design of the titanium retainer/seal allows no part deflection that can cause major problems, such as part distortion and thin wall vibrations. Middleton Aerospace also plans to concentrate on shaft manufacturing with its newly opened facility., The demand for improved payload capacity and fuel economy for jet engines keeps aerospace engineers scrambling. Fortunately, the strength of today' s super alloys affords design engineers more flexibility. One [...]

The Garmin GNS430 is a global positioning system scheduled for certification for light aircraft by 1999. The device is the first to offer an integrated global positioning system, communication device, and navigational aid in one package. The GNS430 features a a 12-channel, parallel tracking GPS engine, a TSO C129 A1 IFR non precision approach GPS, a moving map, a TSOed 10-watt VHF com transceiver, and Europspec channel spacing.

Private and corporate flyers can avail of affordable avionics upgrades that can boost safety, utility and reliability of old aircraft. There are affordable approach capable GPS systems, approach-approved panel-mounted GPS units, CNI radios, map graphics, collision avoidance systems and weather avoidance systems. Reputable makers include AlliedSignal, Garmin, Northstar, Trimble, Morrow, Honeywell, Eventide and Argus among others.

Martin-Baker Aircraft Co Ltd's Mk16 ejection seats are being used in the Eurofighter EF2000, Dassault Rafale, Boeing X-32 and Lockheed Martin X-35. The seats' structure is based on the U-shaped ejection gun and is designed with Kevlar/carbon composites and light alloy for lightness and durability. The seats feature solid rocket propellants that are cast in thick-walled concentric cylinders and a choked cartridge for occupant weight adjustment.

Rolls-Royce Trent 800s is powering the maiden flight of the Boeing 777-300, the world's longest jet airliner. This testifies to the effective market penetration of the UK-based Rolls-Royce and to the success of the Trents. The Trent 800, although made with the same triple-shaft design philosophy that was used with the first RB211 in the 1970s, is lighter than the original. Its growing success is being seen by Rolls-Royce as a victory over two rival US giants, Pratt & Whitney and General Electric.

Micro Aerodynamics is one of the leading companies that provide vortex generator (VG) technologies to the aircraft industry. Among the aircraft which are equipped VG systems from Micro Aerodynamics are Cessna's 340 and 310R models.

The enactment of increasingly stringent noise pollution regulations throughout the world has created a growing demand for aircraft hushkits. Many fleet operators view hushkitting as a very attractive option for compliance as compared to engine retrofits or the acquisition of brand-new aircraft. Manufacturers claim that their hushkits can reduce noise with minimal weight and no compromise in engine performance.

AlliedSignal supplied the new 131-9(D) auxiliary power unit (APUs) for the new McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft. The 131-9(D) was developed because the MD-90's V2500 turbofan engines had high starting requirements that cannot be supplied by AlliedSignals's existing APUs. It will be crucial to the achievement of McDonnell Douglas' target of 99% dispatch reliability for the MD-90 soon after its introduction into service in Apr. 1995.

Brief summaries of airport ground support equipment suppliers and their products are provided. Summaries of new products are also provided. New to the industry is Avmart, a joint venture comprised of five companies. Avmart is billing itself as a 'one-stop shop.' The other companies described are LRS Inc, PureMat Recovery Systems Inc, Stinar Corp and Trailmaster Tanks., The ground support equipment (GSE) industry has taken a new turn with development of Avmart, a joint-venture group made up of five companies. The new Ft. Worth, Tex.-based group describes [...]

Aircraft ice detection systems are classified either as advisory or primary. Advisory detection systems warn flight crews of airframe icing through sensors located at the fuselage and at engine inlets. While these systems have been in use in several planes, they are prone to commit errors due to their high sensitivity. Primary systems, on the other hand, give the system's processor control over the ice protection system ratherthan to the crew. Rosemount Inc prefers the latter type and has already gained approval for the use of their products in a number of aircraft. It offers two types of detection systems, namely magnetorestrictive and heat of transformation ice detectors.

'There won't be any significant breakthrough [in engine emissions] for at least three decades. There's no technical fix. All we can do is reduce the amount we fly.' So says [...]

A tuned exhaust system is available for some aircraft piston engines. Installation of a tuned exhaust engine can result in increased engine efficiency, increased power, and better performance. We will [...]

Driven by stringent noise targets, the designs of the two engines for the A380 are remarkable not only for the size of their fans in relationship to thrust produced but [...]

New giant scale products discovered at the 36th annual Westchester Radio Aero Modelers (WRAM) Show are reviewed. The Fokker Eindecker kit from SK Batteries can be adapted for gas power and costs $299.95, the ZDZ 160 B2 Champion is an upgrade on the popular 160 B2 RV engine and the Fast Fueler from JM Service is a 3-gallon fuel-delivery system priced at $350.

THERE'S a sign just inside the door at Martin-Baker's Denham headquarters, telling visitors how the company's products are performing. At the end of February it read 'lives saved to date--7046; [...]

Byline: UPGRADEStephen Trimble Wichita Beechcraft has quietly developed and certificated a more powerful version of the King Air 350ER for military and other special missions customers. The upgrade to a [...]

TESTING ZACH ROSENBERG WASHINGTON DC Boeing's first of four developmental examples of the US Army's enhanced medium altitude reconnaissance and surveillance system (EMARSS) aircraft has completed its first flight, from [...]

European airlines are increasingly installing convertible seats as a means of making their aircraft better able to handle varying number of business- and economy-class customers. In a typical installation, a row of convertible seats can be configured to accommodate four or five business-class passengers or six economy passengers. But convertible seats are a compromise, because they are heavier, more complicated, and less comfortable than standard business-class seats., European airlines are installing convertible seats in growing numbers as a way to meet the service demands of their premium passengers while maintaining the flexibility to satisfy changing levels of [...]

Portland, OR-based Oregon Aero Inc. specializes in enhanced aircraft equipment for pilot comfort. Ths company designs and manufactures headset and military helmet improvements, as well as custom-made seats and seat kits.

Rosen Product Development Inc's articulated replacement sun visors are cost effective items that belong in most private planes' cockpits. The sun visors' effectiveness is evaluated and discussed.

Airfoil contamination is a principal cause of stalls during takeoff maneuvers. However, this can be prevented using the SW Plus stall warning and contamination system developed by Jet Electronics and Technology Inc, a unit ofBF Goodrich Co. SW Plus is capable of performing measurements on the health of the upper wing surface's boundary layer and gives warnings of premature stalling arising from both contamination and high-alpha situations. It can alsogive pre-rotation warnings of contamination and provides in wind-shear recoveryguidance.

Collins Avionics and Communications Div's new pro Line 4 Avionics Management System, officially named AMS 850, uses human factor engineering in cockpit and console integration. The AMS 850 centralizes cockpit control and display into two areas, a console-mounted control display unit and a multifunction display sitedin the instrument panel. Although the sytem looks crammed and complicated, it is easy to master, flexible and simple.

To the relief of some but the consternation of others, airborne collision avoidance technology has arrived at last. In 1990, 76 carriers operating in U.S. airspace began outfitting their aircraft [...]

A potential amusement park ride may teach us something about thinking outside the box SINCE THEY first appeared on the covers of pulp magazines in the 1920s, jetpacks have captured [...]

development Can FL550 save the climate in 2028? A double-deck 72.2m (237ft)-span swept wing passenger jet with two aft mounted Rolls-Royce Trent-like engines and an altitude ceiling of 55,000ft (16,700m) [...]

New York-Why trade in your old car when a few hundred dollars in repairs will get you several more years of use and stave off the need to shell out [...]

Cirrus Design last week issued a mandatory service bulletin for all 3,300 SR20 and SR22 piston singles, calling for owners to modify the aircraft's rudder-aileron interconnect mechanism within 25 flight [...]

Improved turbofan launched to power new PiperJet sport utility aircraft will offer improved fuel economy Williams International has revealed more details of its recently announced FJ44-3AP turbofan following its launch [...]

The three-year Franco-Russian 'Volga' liquid oxygen (LOX)/methane (CH4) reusable rocket engine programme has concluded that the technology offers improvements in performance, combustion stability and cooling over LOX/kerosene engines. France's space [...]

Pratt & Whitney commercial engines president Steve Heath may not be a gambling man, but if he bet on 'are Pratt & Whitney's days as a commercial engine manufacturer numbered?' [...]

Boeing has revealed more details about its selection of the CTT Systems-developed zonal drying system for the 787, explaining that 'there's still quite a bit of metal in the aircraft [...]

Honeywell is demonstrating a compact auxiliary power unit (APU) to manufacturers of small business jet aircraft and helicopters. The 50hp (37kW) RE50 will weigh around 45kg (100lb) installed and generate [...]

Honeywell is studying the possibility of offering a second source of brakes on the Bombardier CRJ family after breaking Goodrich's stranglehold on the Boeing 747-400 and Embraer ERJ-145 family. The [...]

A parachute recovery system for very light jet aircraft is being developed by Ballistic Recovery Services (BRS) with funding from NASA. Life-saving parachutes are already used on general aviation aircraft. [...]

Continental Airlines and Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) have agreed to launch a winglet retrofit programme for the Boeing 757. The deal, which awaits final approval by both boards, covers the [...]

Eurocopter says its NH90, a new European military helicopter, has completed its first successful flight. The helicopter is built with Goodrich Corp.'s Actuation Systems that feature "fly-by-wire" controls to operate […]