ASAP Part Services Blog

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are a quickly advancing technology, finding use in applications ranging from hobbyist projects to military operations. While many consumers are familiar with the small drones that may be purchased from a retail store for private use, drones can widely vary in their size and construction to accommodate a number of needs. Rotary-wing UAVs are quite popular, and they come in types like monocopters, single-rotor UAVs, twin-rotor UAVS, and multi-rotor UAVs. In this blog, we will discuss each rotary wing subcategory in brief detail, allowing you to be more familiar with the common options on the market.

Valves are common devices found in various applications involving the movement of fluids or materials, capable of managing flow and direction. Depending on the needs of a particular application, there are a variety of valve subtypes that one may take advantage of, each featuring different elements and capabilities. In the realm of aviation, solenoid valves are a common feature of aircraft, and they are electromechanically operated devices. With a solenoid valve, one can shut off, dose, distribute, or mix fluids through electromechanical operation, making them highly reliable, safe, and optimal for more remote operations. In this blog, we will discuss how solenoid valves work and how they are used in aircraft.

As modern aircraft move away from mechanical systems powered by hydraulics and pneumatics, we are seeing a huge shift toward electrical power distribution systems due to the benefits they provide. Nonetheless, no system can be widely adopted without being proven safe, reliable, and durable. To better understand why electrical power distribution systems are being used on aircraft today, we will provide an overview of such systems and how they operate.

When discussing IT hardware and electronics, a circuit card assembly (CCA) is an apparatus that comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) with various components already attached. Circuit card assemblies are found in many applications, supporting the operations of smartphones, cars, and countless other systems that we commonly rely on in the modern age. While a circuit card assembly is quite advanced, it remains very compact for the benefit of downsizing assemblies. In this blog, we will discuss the manufacturing process of circuit card assemblies, allowing you to better understand how such technology is produced.

While bearings are critical components in vital aviation systems, they account for about 51% of all electric motor failures. They play the important roles of guiding and constraining motion, reducing friction, and providing support, so failure(s) can occur in many forms and have various detrimental effects. Failures vary by bearing type and function, but typically include normal wear and tear, lubrication issues, contamination, or electrical damage that affects bearing surfaces. As many of these issues are preventable, this blog will further explore the different types of sleeve bearings, their applications, and how to avoid bearing failure through repairs and routine maintenance.

When electric machinery runs, it generates heat, which in turn requires regulation through a cooling system. In aircraft, machinery like generators are frequently managed with oil spray cooling; however, this technique demands large amounts of oil and causes excessive rotor friction, that of which lessens efficiency. For this reason, this blog will explore alternative cooling approaches and their benefits for aviation applications. A major concern when seeking cooling technologies for high power density machines in aircraft is the weight they will add to the system, so low-weight methods like direct slot cooling (DSC) have become promising approaches.

When considering the purchase of a new aircraft, it is critical to appraise the safety profile and service history of the vessel in question. In addition to the obvious need to protect the flight crew and passengers, having a clear understanding of past issues may be a good predictor of future costs. While it is easy to get lured into a purchase based on the price, performance, and size of the jet, none of these variables are as seminal as the expected price of upkeep. In this blog, we will discuss what factors one should consider when evaluating an aircraft for sale. 

During flight, it is very important for an aircraft to remain straight, level, and in a constant velocity, as this means all forces which are acting on the aircraft are keeping it in a state of equilibrium. If this equilibrium is deterred by things like turbulence, the pilot might lose complete control, resulting in the plane yawing left or right, pitching up or down, or going into a roll. However, if an airplane has stability, it will return to its state of equilibrium once turbulence or any other form of disturbance goes away. 

Of the four forces acting on an aircraft during flight, lift is generally given the most attention, both in aircraft design and engineering discussions. In fact, every external surface of the plane generates lift in varying degrees, with the wings accounting for the highest production. Without lift, the aircraft would never be able to leave the ground, and when this mechanical force is compromised during flight, the results can prove to be catastrophic. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about lift and how it affects flight.

Landing gear is a crucial element of aircraft, allowing them to safely touchdown on a surface at the end of a flight operation. Depending on the type of aircraft, its weight, and general application, the configuration of landing gear may differ greatly from model to model. The tailwheel-type assembly, or simply tailwheel assembly, is a common configuration in which three wheels are placed across the bottom of the fuselage. As a unique type of design when compared to other options, it can be beneficial to have a general understanding of the tailwheel assembly and its various advantages over other counterparts for certain types of aircraft.