Four Methods to Separate Flight Control Wiring Harnesses in an Aircraft
Posted by John Ashour on August 6, 2018
The F-16 like many aircraft is a “fly by wire” aircraft. Instead of cables and pulleys, the aircraft is controlled by electrical signals. The electrical signals tell the flight control surfaces how to move and how fast to move. There are 5 flight control surfaces on the F-16: (1) leading edge flap, (2) trailing edge … Continue reading “Four Methods to Separate Flight Control Wiring Harnesses in an Aircraft”
How Should Signal Types Be Separated When Designing Aircraft Disconnects?
Posted by Marc Piloian on April 9, 2018
Modern combat aircraft like the F-16, F-18, F-22, F-35 (and some newer F-15’s) are all fly-by-wire aircraft. This means loss or degradation of the electrical system could result in the pilot being unable to control the aircraft even if the propulsion system is still operable. This makes it very important that the Electrical Wiring Interconnect … Continue reading “How Should Signal Types Be Separated When Designing Aircraft Disconnects?”
Topics: Aircraft Rewiring, Blog, Crosstalk, F-16 Electrical, Wire, Wiring
What are Disconnects and Why Do Aircraft Have Them?
Posted by Chris Vardy on March 19, 2018
A question I get asked often is “How many electrical wiring harnesses are in a single F-16?” The exact number is dependent on when the F-16 was assembled and what country is flying the F-16. So, what does that have to do with disconnects? It has to do with aircraft maintenance and safety. The more … Continue reading “What are Disconnects and Why Do Aircraft Have Them?”
What are the MTBF Recommendations for F-16 Wiring Harnesses?
Posted by John Ashour on January 15, 2018
This blog is a detailed one and InterConnect is going to do something that never has been done before! InterConnect is going to set MTBFs for F-16 electrical wiring harnesses! If you are new to the term MTBF, please read this previous blog. If you want more information on why MTBF’s are not set for … Continue reading “What are the MTBF Recommendations for F-16 Wiring Harnesses?”
Topics: Blog, F-16, F-16 Electrical, F-16 Electrical Wiring Harness, Kapton, Kapton Wire, MTFB, Wiring, Wiring Harnesses
What is Inherent Viscosity for F-16 Wiring Harnesses?
Posted by John Ashour on December 11, 2017
This is the most difficult blog that I have written concerning F-16 wiring harnesses. It is difficult because it is a technical subject that needs to be understandable to the average reader of InterConnect’s articles. InterConnect has written blogs on the benefits of Kapton wiring as well as the problems of Kapton wiring. InterConnect … Continue reading “What is Inherent Viscosity for F-16 Wiring Harnesses?”
Topics: Blog, F-16, F-16 Electrical, Kapton, Kapton Wire, Wiring, Wiring Harnesses
What is the MTBF for F-16 Wiring Harnesses?
Posted by John Ashour on November 20, 2017
Many readers probably do not know what the term Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) means. MTBF is a measurement of the number of days (or years) that a device will fail based on test results or past performance. In the aerospace industry, MTBF is calculated for just about every piece of equipment that has active … Continue reading “What is the MTBF for F-16 Wiring Harnesses?”
What are the Ten Most Problematic Areas for Kapton Wiring Inside an F-16?
Posted by John Ashour on November 13, 2017
Like most airplanes, the F-16 is made up of four basic structures: (1) fuselage, (2) wings, (3) horizontal tail, and (4) vertical tail. Inside each of these structures are smaller sections that house: (a) other structures such as bulkheads, (b) equipment (both electrical and mechanical), (3) tubing/ducting, and (4) electrical wiring harnesses. Tubing/ducting and electrical … Continue reading “What are the Ten Most Problematic Areas for Kapton Wiring Inside an F-16?”
How Many Breaches are There in the Wiring of a 20-Year-Old F-16?
Posted by John Ashour on October 30, 2017
Two common question that InterConnect receives are: (1) “How many wiring harnesses are there in an aircraft? and (2) “How many miles of wire are there in an aircraft?” This blog will answer these questions as well as one more question which is “How many breaches are there in the wires of a 20-year-old F-16?” … Continue reading “How Many Breaches are There in the Wiring of a 20-Year-Old F-16?”
How Many Breaches in F-16 Wire Insulation is Acceptable?
Posted by John Ashour on October 16, 2017
Occasionally a customer will ask InterConnect how many breaches in a wire’s insulation is acceptable. The answer is an easy one; there should not be any breaches in the insulation of any wire inside an aircraft. So why is that? And, what is a breach? A breach in the insulation of a wire is when … Continue reading “How Many Breaches in F-16 Wire Insulation is Acceptable? “
How Often Should Relay Panels Be Refurbished or Replaced?
Posted by John Ashour on October 3, 2017
There are 4 main types of electrical panels in an F-16: (1) Cockpit, (2) Power or Circuit Breaker, (3) Multiplex (Mux), and (4) Relay. InterConnect refurbishes each of these types of electrical panels. We have been doing this now for over 25 years. Almost every day an F-16 electrical panel arrives for repair or refurbishment. … Continue reading “How Often Should Relay Panels Be Refurbished or Replaced?”
