Stacked Purchasing Blog

Attitude indicators, also known as artificial horizons, are vital instruments in the realm of aviation for proper flight. As one of the common flight instruments found in countless aircraft, attitude indicators play a crucial role in helping pilots maintain proper aircraft orientation. In this blog, we will discuss the inner workings of attitude indicators, discussing the key components and technologies involved.

Radomes, often referred to as "noses" in aviation, play a crucial role in protecting and transmitting signals for radar and communication systems. These protective enclosures are designed to shield antennas and other sensitive equipment from external elements while allowing the reliable transmission and reception of signals. As they ensure the efficient operation of radar and communication systems during flight, this blog will outline how these enclosures have simplified the transmission of information for pilots and aviation professionals alike.

In aircraft and other heavy-duty vehicles, grease is crucial to carrying out preventive maintenance. A majority of mechanical parts regularly require proper lubrication for functionality and protection, and a zerk is a component necessary for greasing aircraft and other vehicles. A zerk is a fitting that permits you to inject grease lubricant into points where wear occurs on cars, trucks, aircraft, and more. It is like a one-way valve in which grease is implemented, promoting smooth movement of parts and more effective handling by keeping grease within a mechanism. Another benefit of zerk fittings is that they make it possible to apply grease to specific areas rather than all over a mechanism. To do this, they rely on a design that consists of a nipple with a metal ball that has been placed at the end of a spring. When the fitting is pressed by a grease gun, the spring compresses, removing the ball from the nipple and allowing grease to flow into the mechanism.

Taped packaging is a common way to package small parts in the electronics industry which allows for the parts to be fed into a pick-and-place machine setup. There are a couple types of tape to be considered for this form of packaging. In this article, we will be exploring these two types along with sharing some basic information about how taped packaging is used in the electronics industry overall.

From takeoff to landing, radio communication is a major part of aviation. In fact, pilots accomplish many aspects of flight through the assistance of ground technology. While navigation systems and equipment for communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) are fairly familiar systems to operate for someone who has used any radio equipment before, some radio systems are unique to aviation. In fact, the term “glidescope” is not listed in the Merriem-Webster dictionary, being uniquely an aviation term. But what exactly is a glidescope, and how is it used by pilots to perform safe landings?

While the ability of an aircraft to safely fly is essential for its basic operations, it is equally essential that it is able to safely takeoff and land from a runway as well. In order to properly carry out the beginning and end of a flight, the pilot must carefully align their aircraft with the runway and ensure that they are able to stop movement or lift off from the ground before they reach the end of the runway. As many flights are carried out during low visibility conditions and night hours, runway lights and the aircraft lighting system are essential. Despite being a basic element of most airport runways, runway lights are also mandated by international aviation regulations established by ICAO.

Whether you fly small jets or heavier-than-air aircraft, all will have an undercarriage that attaches the tires, skids, float, or skis to the airframe. It can be fixed, retractable, or a combination of both, where the main gear retracts while the tailwheel does not.  Knowing how the undercarriage supports your aircraft’s weight, while it is not on the ground or water, is critical to understanding how to take off, land, taxi, and maintain control of your vessel. Such knowledge is also helpful when carrying out maintenance or assessing different parts of your aircraft.

Most lawnmowers, chainsaws, and other small gas-powered engines do not require batteries. Instead, they use a magneto ignition system to generate their own power to start the combustion engine. A similar system is used on aircraft on a much larger scale in the form of dual magneto ignition. In an effort to safeguard assemblies in case of electrical or engine failure, aircraft use a system of two self-contained generators which are each powerful enough to start the engine on their own. This article will cover five important pieces of information to better understand dual magneto ignition.

Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are radio beacons that are supplied on board aircraft and utilized in the event of a crash or other unprecedented incident. There are two main types of ELTs in service, those of which are the 406 MHz ELT and the 121.5 MHz ELT. To better understand the function of these ELT types, this blog will outline the purpose and function of ELTs.

When flying an aircraft, pilots are often provided with a number of cockpit controls for the means of controlling the aircraft and its various systems. Of these various controls, the yoke is one of the more important devices as it permits a user to pilot many types of fixed-wing aircraft. Also referred to as control wheels or control columns, yokes enable pilots to manage the aircraft’s attitude, and it can be adjusted in various ways to execute pitches and rolls alike. In this blog, we will discuss the yoke aircraft control in more detail, allowing you to better understand its functionality, as well as how it compares to alternative devices that are present in other aircraft models.

A pilot’s main threat to a safe, smooth flight is turbulence moving the plane around. Air travel relies on the movement of air in atmospheric jet streams, which can be difficult for pilots and air control centers to track as they are invisible and can travel in any direction. In general, jet streams form in long, horizontal waves up to a thousand miles long, allowing pilots to save fuel by riding the current in a similar fashion to surfers riding a wave.  However, danger presents itself when jet streams traveling in multiple directions converge, forming turbulence.         

For the forward movement of an engine, the reciprocating motion of a piston must be converted into the rotation of the crankshaft. To perform this particular task, you need a connecting rod. A connecting rod is an integral part of the engine, forming the connection between the piston and crankshaft.

In the realm of electronic components, a jumper is a small metal connector capable of opening or closing part of a circuit. Jumpers typically feature two or more connecting points, those of which are used to regulate the circuit board. Zero ohm jumpers, also known as zero ohm resistors, are specialized jumpers that are packed like a standard resistor, allowing for post-fabrication configurability. In this blog, we will discuss the zero ohm jumper in more detail, allowing you to have a better understanding of their design and operations.

Resistors are common passive components found in countless electronic circuits, and they are often used to reduce current flow, terminate transmission lines, divide voltages, and much more. To accommodate a wide variety of electrical needs, resistors come in many shapes and forms. Metal foil resistors in particular are a popular option for high precision applications, offering ample performance over alternate options alongside accuracy, stability, and speed. With their implementation within aerospace applications, instrumentation, and other settings, it can be beneficial to understand their use and operational characteristics.