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February 02, 2023

The engine is an essential part of any vehicle, including an aircraft. You might be familiar with the fact that planes typically have two or four machines under the aircraft wing, but have you ever wondered how exactly these engines are attached to the aircraft?

Attaching engines to actual commercial aircraft is quite tricky, which is why experts, such as aviation welding technicians, handle it.

Let’s discuss how a professional aviation company ensures that an engine is safe and securely attached to different types of aircraft.

Engine Placement In Pods

Most airlines and plane manufacturers place the engines in pods under the wing. It provides several advantages in the overall design, working, and performance of the aircraft:

  • The weight of the plane's components is equally distributed as the weight of the wings neutralizes the potential impact of lift-bending wingtips in an upward direction.
  • The entire wing structure can be made significantly lighter by mounting the engines slightly forward of the wing.

However, it is essential to note that placing the engines in pods also carries a significant risk of exposing the machine to foreign object damage. Therefore, it is only possible to use this engine placement in some aircraft types.

Some smaller planes, such as the Piaggio P.180 Avanti, Aeronca Champ, and Aeronca Chief, have engines mounted on their fuselage tails. This type of engine configuration is known as tailwheel configuration.

Also Read: The Top 3 Differences Between A Low Wing And High Wing Aircraft

Engine Attachment To A Pylon

Once an engine is podded, it is attached to a pylon; not to the wing directly. The specific design and layout of the attachment can significantly vary from plane to plane, but the primary design remains the same.

Professional aviation welding technicians use the best welding techniques and equipment to fully attach the pylon to the wing structure safely and securely. The pylon also plays a vital role in creating distance between the wing and the engine. It is essential to make sure that the branch remains safe in case of an engine fire.

Attaching The Engine Pod To The Pylon

Compared to the rest of the procedure, it is easier to attach engine pods to a pylon. However, this process should also be handled by aviation welding technicians so that there is no chance of compromising the safety of the engine or the entire aircraft.

Specialized bolts can be used to attach engine pods to the pylons. Generally, pods are connected at the top of the fan frame and the top of the turbine frame. Since the pods are attached at only two points, making this attachment as secure as possible is essential. These connections will have to bear a lot of engine forces, including the forward thrust force and the force of the engine weight.

This part is carefully designed to support the massive forces and ensure aircraft safety. The strength of this connection primarily stems from the effectiveness of the bolts. For instance, in the Boeing 737, the bolts used to attach the engine pod to the pylon are made of superalloy, while in the 718, they are made of a nickel alloy.

Whichever type of bolts are used, it is made sure that these bolts and the overall attachment of the engine to the pod are capable of withstanding maximum expected forces as well as the unexpected extreme forces that can hit the plane in case of a crash.

For instance, if an aircraft is making a hard landing or experiencing extreme turbulence, it will have to face a lot of unexpected forces. If these forces are not considered during the design of engine attachment, the bolts can come off in the event of a crash and result in significant losses. Therefore, these incidents must also be factored in while attaching the engines to the aircraft.

About Acorn Welding

Acorn Welding is one of the leading companies in the aviation industry. We offer high-quality products and services related to different types of aircraft with the help of our professional aviation welding technicians.

Our experts are thoroughly familiar with the correct usage of different plane components and how to repair them. Therefore, you can rely entirely on Acorn Welding to provide reliable aviation products and services.

You can contact us anytime to get more information about our services.