I'm writing.
I need the name of an obscure yet vital piece of aircraft hardware.
Any will do, the more obscure and amusing the better.
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Answer by Ottoman Umpire
How about a Coffman Starter? This used shotgun cartridges to start a radial engine... if you ran out of cartridges, you couldn't fly. They were common pre-WWII, but are found mainly on a few types of military diesel engines today.
[Source: I got this from my step brother, who's an aircraft mechanic.]
Fred Cole: Ottoman, that is awesome. That's what I'm looking for, except I need something like that except for on a modern aircraft or future one.
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- · Feb 18 at 8:07pm
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Answer by Ottoman Umpire
How about a Ram Air Turbine, aka RAT? "This is a back up wind generator used to feed electric or hydraulic systems in the event all other power is lost."
[Source: The aforementioned stepbrother, Wes.]
Ottoman Umpire: I just had a discussion with Wes about whether this is "vital." It's vital in the sense that any back-up device is vital, and I gather that a pilot wouldn't take off without the RAT working. But it's not something that would fail mid-air unless a lot of failures had already preceded it.
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- · Feb 19 at 5:56pm
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Ottoman Umpire: The other systems he cited -- pitch trim actuators and cabin overflow valves, for example -- just don't have as much pizzazz.
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- · Feb 19 at 6:46pm
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Fastflyer: How about "vortex generator". Sounds like it electrical but it is not.
Fastflyer: How about "glove". Sounds like it would go on your hand but it doesn't.
Fastflyer: How about "fence". It doesn't enclose your yard.
Fastflyer: How about "strake"? It don't come medium rare.
Fastflyer: How about "pitot"? It is not something you do on your shoe.
The Logo: Good suggestions, FastFlyer. As a matter of process, I'd say these rise to the level of an Answer. You can add an Answer using the blue button at bottom.
Grendel: How about the "Jesus nut" (or "Jesus pin"). It is the main rotor retaining nut that holds the main rotor to the mast of some helicopters, such as the UH-1 Iroquois ("Huey"). If it comes loose . . ."Oooh Jesus!".
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