Aeronautics

Aeronautics

The branch of science that deals with flight aerodynamics and with the operation of all types of aircraft.

Contributors in Aeronautics

Aeronautics

A form of freewheeling clutch used in the rotor-drive system of a helicopter. The sprag clutch allows the engine to drive the rotor, but, when the engine power is reduced, the clutch allows the rotor ...

drum brake

Aviation; Aeronautics

A form of friction brake used on some airplanes. A drum brake is composed of two curved shoes which have a heat-absorbing friction material bonded to their outer surface. These shoes are pressed ...

centrifugal clutch

Aviation; Aeronautics

A form of friction clutch that engages when the drive wheel reaches a certain speed. The clutch is engaged by centrifugal force acting on a flyweight mechanism.

fuel injection system

Aviation; Aeronautics

A form of fuel metering system for a reciprocating engine that injects the fuel directly into the cylinder, rather than mixing it with the air before it is taken in through the intake valve. There ...

fuel heater

Aviation; Aeronautics

A form of fuel-air heat exchanger in which heat is taken from the compressor bleed air and put into the fuel before it flows through the fuel filter. At high altitude, the temperature is so low that ...

turboprop engine

Aviation; Aeronautics

A form of gas turbine engine that uses one or more stages of turbines to drive a set of reduction gears, which in turn drives a propeller. Most of the heat energy in the exhaust gases is converted ...

turboshaft engine

Aviation; Aeronautics

A form of gas turbine engine that uses one or more stages of turbines to drive a transmission, which in turn drives the rotors of a helicopter. A turboshaft engine extracts a maximum amount of the ...