A ram air turbine (RAT) is a small wind turbine that is installed in an aircraft to be used as a source of power during emergencies. These turbines are connected to an electrical generator or a hydraulic pump and use the airstream to generate power by ram pressure from the aircraft’s speed. More power is generated when the aircraft is operating at a higher speed and less is generated when operating at lower speeds. Present-day…
We are beyond thrilled to be among the first to announce that Sensata Technologies has just sealed a multi-year distribution agreement with Proponent, the world’s largest independent aerospace distributor. Get to know Sensata Technologies Sensata Technologies is one of the world’s leading suppliers of sensing, electrical protection, control and power management solutions, with operations and business centers in 12 countries, including China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. Sensata manufactures, tests, repairs, overhauls and offers exchanges on Kavlico-brand LVDTs, RVDTs…
As aviation continues a historic boom, jet fuel prices continue to rise, and the threats of irreversible climate change loom ever nearer, aviation researchers are looking for sustainable fuel alternatives to increase efficiency and lower the carbon footprint of individual aircraft and the industry as a whole. And sometimes, they find promising solutions in really unexpected places. We’ve heard about a lot of odd materials being used to create biofuels — from algaes and used…
We’re one step closer to supersonic flight over land, as Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works announced recently that they have begun manufacturing parts for the next NASA X-Plane, the X-59 QueSST (“Quiet Supersonic Transport”) low-boom demonstrator. Lockheed also revealed an updated timeline, committing to delivering the aircraft in late 2021, to begin flight tests in 2022. Even in an industry like aerospace, where innovation is rampant and part of our DNA, it never comes all at once….
Proponent works hard to stay on the cutting edge of the disruptive technologies that are shifting the aviation industry. This month, our Pricing Optimization Manager, Jacob Volen, had the opportunity to share his thoughts on one such technology – additive manufacturing (also referred to as 3D printing) – with Manufacturing Tomorrow magazine. In the article, Jacob outlines the benefits of additive manufacturing (reduced costs, weight reductions, shorter time to market, etc.), how it is currently…
In the past few years, “predictive analytics” has become something of a buzzword in the aerospace community. It shows up a lot more on websites, being touted as a strength. But, if you press beyond a surface-level conversation, it’s clear that many companies can’t tell you much beyond the fact that it will help your business. And if you really want to throw someone for a loop, ask them what prescriptive maintenance is and how…
In a recent article on MRO Network, author Henry Canaday outlined the future of MROs as “human-machine teaming.” We couldn’t agree more. We write a lot about technology, and the ways that it is helping to advance and evolve the aerospace industry. While we’re excited about where aviation technology is heading, we still believe the core focus of this industry is people – whether you’re talking about the innovative minds that engineer ever-more efficient aircraft,…
NASA recently announced the finalists for its most recent batch of experimental aircraft, or X-planes. The X-plane program is far from new, but the proposed aircraft in this iteration have been engineered to test advanced green aviation technologies, which gets us at Proponent very excited for the future. The History of NASA’s X-Plane Program Beginning in 1946 with the launch of the X-1 – the first plane to break the sound barrier – NASA’s…
With so much of the focus of the aviation industry on manufacturing new aircraft and maintaining or repairing existing aircraft, it can be easy to forget about an aircraft’s end-of-life and what happens when a plane is decommissioned. More recently, with the rise of “green aviation” practices, aircraft recycling has become a huge part of retiring an airplane. Moving forward, aircraft recycling is becoming even more important, with 12,000 aircraft due to retire in the…
Ten years ago, the term “drone” conjured images of highly specialized military aircraft flying covert missions. Five years ago, drone had shifted to mean that annoying little toy being flown by a hobbyist and disturbing your picnic in the park. In 2018, drone could very well mean the future of the aviation industry. Driven as much by a cultural shift in consumer and commercial use as by improvements in the technology, drones – or unmanned…
