Vehicles used in military and defense operations must be able to perform reliably in some of the most demanding and unpredictable environments, and their suspension system is one of the most central contributors to their resilience by absorbing shocks from uneven terrain and managing dynamic forces from movement. Engineered to exceed the capabilities of those found in standard vehicles, military-grade suspension systems enhance off-road mobility, enable heavier payloads, and preserve traction during tactical maneuvers. In this blog, readers will be introduced to the different types of suspension systems frequently used in military vehicles, gaining insight into how each one is designed to meet distinct operational requirements.

For aircraft platforms that are designed and developed by an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) like Lockheed Martin or Boeing, there are many manufacturing specifications for their aircraft. For example, popular aircraft designations like F-15, F-16, F-35, KC-46, P-8, 787, and many others require specifications for their landing gear, fuel, and lighting systems. Even the EWIS (Electrical Wiring Interconnect System) which is composed of wires, connectors, backshells, wire splices, and electrical wiring harnesses must be specified.

The aviation industry often takes advantage of welding for joining materials, utilizing such practices as alternatives to fastening to ensure structurally sound assemblies that remain lightweight for the benefit of aerodynamics. In general, the aviation industry utilizes diffusion, laser, and electron-beam welding the most, though other methods may be carried out as well based on the application. In this blog, we will discuss some of the main reasons as to why welding is so prevalent in the aerospace industry, allowing you to better understand its versatility and importance.

The hairspring is a flat, spiral spring that consists of 12 to 15 turns, weighs around 1 milligram, and is approximately 0.03 millimeters thick. Hairsprings serve a single purpose: when they coil and uncoil, hairsprings propel a balance wheel that spins around its axis. This balance is a flywheel and is meant to accumulate the energy provided by the hairspring. Both are made so this oscillation is as regular and repeatable as possible in order to become a stably recurring phenomenon. Because of the reliability of hairsprings, they are frequently used in watches and master clocks, which are used to measure time in very small increments. Wheels and pinions convert the oscillation into seconds, minutes, hours, and so on. Because hairsprings transform the energy they receive into information, it is considered a mechanical processor.

Aircraft was originally designed without brake systems and were able to slow down with the use of slower airspeeds, softer airfield surfaces, and friction developed by the tail skid. Brake systems started becoming more common when aircraft became faster and more complex and are now an integral aspect of an aircraft’s design. There are many different types of brakes and supportive technology used to slow down an aircraft.

Planes can range anywhere from the size of a sedan to the size of the Titanic. And the number of parts they have can range from a couple thousand to the 6,000,000 that the Boeing 747 boasts. To someone who isn't in the business of working with planes, understanding what parts make up a plane can seem daunting and impossible. Fortunately, it's not, because most planes have the same 5 major components that are then broken down into hundreds and thousands of aircraft parts.