ASAP Aviation Supplies Blog

As a form of capacitor that is able to store much more electrical charge than other types, electrolytic capacitors are found in a number of common electrical circuits. The main feature of this type of capacitor is its use of an electrolyte, which is a liquid or gel that has a high concentration of charged particles or ions. By using these ions to store their electrical charge, electrolytic capacitors are able to hold a large amount of charge in a small space. This makes them especially useful for projects where space is limited, such as on aircraft. However, there are certain applications that they may be less suited for. Here, we will explain some key information about electrolytic capacitors in more detail, including some key characteristics to keep in mind so as to avoid potential malfunction.

Vortex generators are utilized to control aircraft wing separation and certain functions in wind tunnels. These small, wedge-shaped tabs form vortices of air across the wings of an aircraft, and though vortex generators were initially used only on airline transport and military aircraft, they are commonly utilized in general aviation today. They are often installed on horizontal stabilizers along with the leading edges of the wings.

When working with electronics, it is crucial to your safety and the success of your operations that your circuit’s wiring is connected safely to the terminal. Whether operating in a facility, on industrial equipment, or in other home and business applications, a safe electric connection at the installation point makes for functioning systems. Current load, wire size, and a number of additional factors determine the best terminal option for your specific application, so it is useful to understand some of the different electric terminal variations available. For your better knowledge, this blog will look closer at ring terminals and spade terminals, as well as their additional beneficial features.

Despite the fact that flight is a relatively safe way to travel, accidents occur, so it is important for those operating aircraft to troubleshoot. According to the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC), many accidents in general aviation (GA) occur as a result of inadequate aeronautical decision making (ADM), in tandem with inadequate resource management skills. As such, this blog will serve as an overview of basic ADM principles, as well as how to use a method known as the 3-P Model to integrate better skills into your flights. To improve your decision making as a pilot, consider the following guidelines.

When discussing aircraft and their ability of flight, you may see the term airfoil being used just as much as wings when describing the lift generating surfaces that make powered flight possible. While the two terms are not quite interchangeable, they are very much connected. In general, an airfoil is simply a specific shape that allows for lift generation, thus being the standard shape that wings are constructed in. Alongside this, fans, propellers, stabilizers, and other various surfaces may also utilize the airfoil shape, proving its usefulness for the manipulation of airflow and aerodynamics. To help you better understand how flight is made possible, we will provide a brief overview of airfoils and their various characteristics.

If you have ever tuned into a conversation between pilots and air traffic controllers, their exchange may sound like a foreign language. As such, student pilots are taught to understand and speak in certain lingo that consists of required numbers, words, and phrases used in aviation during their training. Using communication training aids and simulators, pilots learn how to keep the conversation going.

In the realm of transmission technology, a constant speed drive (CSD) is an apparatus that utilizes the power supplied by a rotating input shaft with varying speed to create a constant output. For applications such as electrical generators that need a consistent speed for optimal operations, constant speed drives are a perfect solution. While constant speed drives may be used in a few settings, they are most prevalent in the accessory drives of aircraft gas turbine engines. In this blog, we will discuss constant speed drives in more detail, allowing you to better understand how they benefit modern aviation applications.

In the economy section of commercial airlines, passenger safety during flight is made possible through the use of a lap belt. However, business sections and other premium cabin seats have three-point harnesses. What exactly are these three-point harnesses and what are their qualities? In this blog, we will discuss the three-point harness in more detail..

An airfoil is an aircraft control surface that is designed to react to air moving through and around it. When looking at a typical airfoil profile, there are various specifications to consider. For instance, there is a major difference in the curvatures, or cambers, of the upper and lower surfaces. Furthermore, the leading edge is rounded in appearance, while the trailing edge is characterized by its narrow, tapered look. 

When designing the fuselage and skin sections of a typical aircraft, it is highly important that all joints are secure and everything is well protected from the effects of pressure. Pressure plugs are a staple of wide- and narrow-bodied aircraft alike, coming in the form of heavy-duty fasteners that seal pressurized threaded holes. Also known as threaded plugs, such components can seal an area without becoming loose or failing under extreme pressure values. As leaking pressure can be detrimental for a number of reasons, it can be very useful to have reliable aircraft pressure plugs on hand during construction and maintenance endeavors.