What Are the Two Main Parts of an Airplane?
The technology that goes into making flight possible is incredibly complex, and aviation is one of the more recent innovations to revolutionize our way of life as human beings. Previously a tool used for military transportation, people have only had the ability to fly for a little over a century. Unsurprisingly, there is a great deal of technology that goes into making functional aircraft, and in fact an entire team of certified aviation welding technicians is needed to make an aircraft fully safe and functional. As such, exploring all aspects of flight in a single blog would be futile, but a basic understanding of two major components will offer you a better overall understanding of how flight is possible. Together, the aircraft engine and the landing gear work to provide the power and safety required from takeoff to landing.
Most commonly in the form of a piston engine, the engine is the main source of any aircraft’s power, and it is typically located toward the front of the aircraft. By burning fuel, the engine generates enough power to make flight possible. In piston engines, the fuel goes through a combustion chamber, that of which creates heat and pressure to cause a combustion reaction that releases energy used to power the pistons. The pistons, in turn, cause the crankshaft to spin and rotate inside the engine. The cylinders inside the engine of an aircraft are used to bank hot air into combustion chambers, where each cylinder is surrounded by a piston. This heat is used to ignite and vaporize, or burn, the fuel. Meanwhile, the turbines are typically located at the center of the engine and are used to create an axial force that is transferred via a shaft to propeller blades fixed on either side of the aircraft. The turning blades also generate forward movement through thrust by forcing air backwards. Combining the movement of air and the burning of fuel in different ratios, different engines provide enough power to move the aircraft by different means. The majority of airplanes are powered by either turboprops or jets, both of them using different types of engines that produce power between 10 and 100 horsepower each.
In addition to the engine or powerhouse of the aircraft, landing gear makes flight possible by keeping the vehicle safely grounded and preventing crashes. Landing gear are located underneath the aircraft and are often, but not always, retractable, meaning they tuck inside the aircraft during flight and when not in use. When landing a plane, the gear will be lowered to allow the wheels of your airplane to touch down on the runway, all of this prevents any damage to your aircraft. Made from carbon fiber composite materials, it is important that landing gear are manufactured by a professional aviation welding technician.
Together, the landing gear and the engine are unique components of aircraft that make flight a plausible method of transportation, travel, and more. When you are in the market for any reliable parts to maintain your aircraft, look no further than NSN Target, a trusted online distributor of bearings, fasteners, IT Hardware parts, and other aircraft parts from manufacturers around the world. As an ASAP Semiconductor owned and operated platform, we make quality the cornerstone of all we do, so our loyal customers can rest assured they will receive only the highest-caliber products and services from our team of experts. Kickoff the procurement process for any items you require today when you submit a completed Request for Quote (RFQ) form. To learn more, contact us at any time; we are available 24/7x365!
