Aviation Sourcing Solutions Blog

While years of research and innovation went into making the first aircraft, early designs, and still current designs, are far from perfect. The aviation industry continues to evolve, making constantly better designs. One major shift in aircraft design was the change in the location of the engine. Aircraft once had engines attached to the nose, above the wings, blended into the wings, and the rear fuselage. Today, most aircraft engines are stored under the wings for better overall performance. Many factors contributed to this shift in design, so this blog will explore the reasoning behind the engine’s new location for your better understanding.

The introduction of the turbojet engine brought about a revolution in the operating capabilities of many aircraft. Producing more power, faster speed, and higher fuel efficiency, turbojet engines became the staple for commercial and military aircraft. The turbojet is equally complex as it is impressive, but anybody with an interest in aviation should take the time to understand the fundamentals of these machines. In this blog, we will discuss the operating principle behind turbojets while also highlighting the various forms that may be found in standard aircraft.

Whether you are flying a simplistic trainer aircraft or a robust military fighter jet, most modern aircraft rely on the combustion of fuel and air to create the power necessary for flight. Fuel combustion takes place in the engine of the aircraft, making it an essential element for aviation. While there are a diverse set of engines that exist for varying types of planes, most share a standard set of components that work together to make fuel combustion possible. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of the most common engine components that are found in the aircraft engine.

Reciprocating aircraft engines are almost always fitted with independent, dual ignition systems, allowing for increased safety in terms of redundancy in the case of a system failure. With dual magneto configurations, the engine can even continue to run in the instance of the electrical system failing. As a result, new technology often continues this sense of redundancy, always ensuring that there is some form of backup to keep the engine running during a standard flight operation. In this blog, we will discuss the operations of a piston engine and the importance of spark plugs, allowing you to better understand how such systems function and are maintained.

Following the shift Airbus has cited a slight delay in the development of the A330neo power plant in entry into service to early 2018. The Airframers latest promise for the maiden flight of the re-engined jet is the first half of 2017.

Rolls-Royce conducted the first test for its Power GearBox (PGB) at its facility in Germany. The beginning of PBG testing has marked an important step for Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan engine as it has been two whole years since the design for the UltraFan was first released. The PGB is an essential part of the fan’s infrastructure and efficiencies. It will enable the engine to provide power that reaches 100,000HP during aircraft take-off, landing, and during flight.

The French defense procurement office has placed an order for four Lockheed Martin C-130 aircraft, for the purpose of transport and mid-flight refueling of their helicopters.

Rolls-Royce has a long history in the aircraft engine business, going as far as 1906. Today, it is the second-largest manufacturer of aircraft engines. The Rolls-Royce family expands by adding the Trent 7000, their seventh generation of the Trent family of engines. Introduced at the Farnborough Airshow in 2014, the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 has successfully completed its first test run on a test bed in Derby, UK.

Embraer’s newest mid-light executive jet, the Legacy 450, along with number of Honeywell Aerospace products have been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency.

In a recent deal worth $9.2 billion, Rolls-Royce and Emirates airline has entered a contract for 200 Trent 900 engines, which will be utilized for the Airbus A380 super-jumbos. In addition to this deal, Rolls-Royce struck another contract with Air China worth a total of $993 million. In this case, they are supplying the Trent 1000 engine for the 15 Boeing Dreamliner. This marks an astounding 50% market share for Rolls-Royce within the super-jumbo engine sales. Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates, stated, “Today’s announcement is significant not only because it cements the partnership between Emirates and Rolls-Royce, but also because of the significant economic impact that this will have on aviation manufacturing in the UK and Europe.”