The field of aviation is one of the most technology intensive industries on the planet.
What is a black box?
When aircraft crash or disappear, investigators highly prioritize retrieving the aircraft's black box. The device records the entire flight, as well as conversations in the cockpit and between the flight crew. However, the term “black box” inaccurately describes the box. It is a bright orange cylinder that must be highly visible in a wreck. The [...]
The Airplane that Fights Jet Lag for You
Jet lag is problematic. You travel on an airplane for an extended amount of time and a feeling of fatigue and discomfort overcomes you upon reaching your destination. Our bodies try to compensate and you can take some steps to help fight it, too. However, what if the airplane you were on worked to fight jet [...]
The Helicopter’s Technology Update
We often hear a lot of news on new technology and innovation for airplanes like flexible wings and turbulence-detecting lasers. However, there is not an incredible amount of news on helicopter technology--and there should be. Helicopters and airplanes are two entirely different machines; one generates lift through spinning rotors while airplanes fly by moving forward while [...]
U.S. Navy Fighter Fleet Upgrades
Within the last year, the United States Navy heavily focused on improving the strike fighters in their fleet. The F/A-18 Hornet is a modern version of the Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon and designed to be a fighter and attack jet. The more current aircraft in the fleet, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, is about to [...]
How Are Aircraft Engines Tested?
Aircraft engine testing, especially on commercial flights, is top-priority to ensure safety for everyone on board. According to the FAA, more than 42,000 flights and 2,587,000 passengers traveled in the United States in 2016. Seeing exactly how many people rely on commercial aircraft for domestic transportation further emphasizes the importance of engine testing. All Weather [...]
Flying Eye Hospital Prevents Blindness Worldwide
In the late 1960s, ophthalmologist Dr. David Patan returned to the United States after spending time abroad with a startling truth: 217 million people are visually impaired and 80% of these impairments are avoidable. Dr. Patan worked to make eye care accessible to everyone through mobile stations and educate as many people as possible on [...]
Flight Simulators: History and Function
Before a pilot gets behind the wheel of an actual plane, they often rely on technology to teach them the ropes. The technology behind flight simulators is fascinating and complex. The benefits of a flight simulator are plentiful and not necessarily for the reasons you might think. Simulators take flight Flight simulation first came about [...]
Aircraft Wings Need to Be More Flexible
As part of the journey to building more fuel-efficient aircraft, aeronautic engineers have extensively researched ways to modify aircraft wings and make them more flexible. Less rigid wings could be the key to these flights because the overall weight of the aircraft would decrease while flexibility would increase. NASA’s Advanced Air Transport Technology project and [...]
Boeing to Test Turbulence-Detecting Lasers on Commercial Flights
Boeing equipped its long-range 777 with a laser to discover turbulence before coming in contact with it. If the laser proves efficient, the plane, crew, and any passengers on board will be saved from a rough ride. Troublesome Turbulence Photo Credit: CBC News | Technology and Science, Ted S. Warren In-flight turbulence is [...]
What is Airplane Mode and Why Do You Have to Use it?
So, what exactly does it mean when that little plane icon appears? Airplane mode is a setting found on many modern smartphones. Maybe you've used it before when you travel. Maybe you've heard enabling it will help save battery life on your phone. Or maybe you've never put any thought into the little airplane icon. [...]