Better journal bearings are one of the keys to safer aircraft engines. The AOrbit project is building up a testrig to support the development of such systems.
Imagine you’re aboard a plane, enjoying the view through the window. Suddenly, an engine stops working. Should you panic? Well, it depends on the reliability of the airplane’s journal bearings. If they fail to keep the aircraft fan rotating, it will inexorably result in huge drag on one side of the aircraft, and a potential crash.