An aircraft ground power unit supplies electricity to systems when the pilot turns off the jet engines and parks the plane at the aircraft stand. The aircraft’s electricity requirements and domestic electricity requirements are not the same. Generally, the standard requirement of an aircraft is to have a 110/220 Volt and 50/60 HZ power supply, while a smaller aircraft like a business model will require a 115 Volt and 400 Hz power supply. For private jets, 28 Volts DC supply is the most common. Read more >>

The aircraft fuel system is paramount for standard flight operations to be carried out, ensuring that fuel and air is properly mixed and combusted for driving systems and creating propulsion. Two of the most important aspects of an aircraft fuel system are aircraft engine fuel and fuel metering systems, both of which pilots need to understand for proper operations to be carried out. In this blog, we will discuss aircraft engine fuel and fuel metering systems, allowing you to understand the various types that benefit aviation. Read more >>

Typically utilized for internal combustion engines, starter motors are an essential mechanism that functions to get an engine up and running. Due to the way energy is created within a combustion engine, engaging any pistons within the power unit requires the use of a starter motor. Generating movement through the use of inertia produced by components allowing the engine to intake air, starter motors can be found in electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic types. In detail, we will go over how a starter motor functions and why they are employed within vehicles. Read more >>

A centrifugal pump is a common component of fluid transportation applications, and such devices move fluids through the conversion of rotational kinetic energy to hydrodynamic energy. With the use of an engine or electrical motor, the rotational energy needed for the pump’s operations can be supplied for accelerating fluids so that they flow radially outward into a diffuser or volute chamber. While centrifugal pump parts commonly serve many pumping applications due to their high flow rate capabilities, their performance can be negatively affected by axial thrust. Read more >>

Bleed air, the compressed air that originates from the compressor section of a turbine or auxiliary power unit, is a critical component of jet engine functionality. Gas turbine engineers use bleed air in many different ways throughout an aircraft to improve its efficiency. In fact, the successful distribution of bleed air is vital to the operation of an aircraft. To do this, air bleed valves have a critical role. Because bleed air valves have to be reliable even at extreme temperatures and in dry conditions, they are primarily made from carbon graphite. This material is a popular choice due to its ability to lubricate rubbing components. Read more >>