About a hundred and twenty years ago, flying as high as a bird was a mere figure of speech which, in everyone’s opinion, was an elusive thought. Fast forward to 2022, air transport has become a widely used mode of transport across the globe. In the pre-pandemic era, the global freight industry revenue was setting new standards by reaching its all-time high of 607 bn USD (in 2019). It goes without saying that the mode’s efficiency and time-saving benefits continuously receive immense praise amongst travel enthusiasts.
As time went by, the world saw flying take a recreational route as air sports became a norm. As we speak, thousands of people across the globe own private planes to fulfill their personal traveling needs. However, there is one common problem amongst all average aviation enthusiasts - lack of technical knowledge.
As leading aviation welding technicians in Canada, we encounter numerous individuals who fail to recognize and understand the minor technical issues of their aircraft on time. Consequently, the problems become more prominent and quite costly to fix. In truth, it would be unfair to blame the owners for this lack of knowledge. After all, they are not professionally trained pilots who are optimally equipped with the necessary technical information.
But it is never too late to learn. So to help our beloved aviation fanatics out, we are presenting this blog to share basic yet essential aircraft information. We know it is not possible to cover everything at once, so for today, we shall concentrate on understanding the functions of a few crucial aircraft parts.
So quickly fasten your seatbelts as this plane of knowledge prepares to take off:
Important Aircraft Parts And Their Functions
Like automobile lovers, some plane aficionados claim that they know their mechanical beau from the inside out. Nonetheless, many people are not even familiar with the basic parts of their aircraft that they ought to keep an eye on. The latter can prove dangerous as even a minor issue might cause detrimental accidents in midair if the pilot fails to understand which plane part is causing the problem.
So let us make the most of this learning opportunity:
Engine
An engine is the most important part of an aircraft. Without the latter, your aircraft is worthless and will not move an inch. The engine is the powerhouse that produces the needed thrust to propel the plane and make it fly. Mainly, there are two types of engines:
- Piston engines
- Gas turbines
In rarer cases, some plans are rocket-powered or feature electric motors. Most of the time, an engine is located at the front of an aircraft. Although each type of engine works differently, the general chain of events are as follows:
- The engine blades rotate at a high velocity and compress the air within.
- The compressed air mixes with the fuel, and an electric spark ignites the mixture.
- The burning mixture shoots out of the back of the engine.
- This backward blast propels the engine and ultimately the whole aircraft forward.
From the above discussion, you can surely understand that a malfunctioning engine may lead to fatal accidents. Thus, it is essential that you inspect your engine prior to taking off. If you notice a problem, ask a reliable aviation technician to inspect it.
Engine Mount
An aircraft engine mount does exactly what its name suggests. It is a unique web-like metal structure on which the engine is mounted. This part connects the engine to the main body or frame of an aircraft. Besides the latter, an engine mount also helps to suppress engine vibration and systematically distributes it to the whole aircraft for balance and smooth functioning. For this reason, engine mounts must be sturdy.
Aircraft Exhaust
An aircraft exhaust is another important component of a plane. Have you ever thought about where the masses resulting from continuous fuel combustion in the engine go? Well, the exhaust performs the noble function of venting dangerous gasses like carbon monoxide away from the engine and, ultimately, the cabin.
In this regard, it is imperative to know that a fault in the exhaust system can be fatal. Unlike an engine that shows apparent signs of impairment, a problem within the exhaust may go unnoticed for a while. However, these minor issues often suddenly emerge in the form of carbon monoxide poisoning and abrupt fires. Thus, regular inspection from a repeat aviation specialist is highly recommended.
About Acorn Welding
Flaunting a combined experience of over a century, Acorn Welding has what it takes to be leading global aviation welding technicians. Whether you are looking for exhaust repair, engine mount replacements, or any other aircraft hardware, contact us now.
