Although electronics are almost universally used to ignite the gases of an internal combustion engine today, these engines were first developed using much different ignition methods. The earliest internal combustion engines burned a gas called...

The simplest form of spark ignition is that using a magneto. The engine spins a magnet inside a coil, and also operates a contact breaker, interrupting the current and causing the voltage to be increased sufficiently to jump a small gap. The spark plugs...

WHAT THE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT OWNER SHOULD KNOW Prior to taking off, we all religiously do a magneto check. Run the engine up to about 1,700 rpm and turn the mag switch to "Left," back to "Both," then to "Right" and back to...

The use of electronic switches in automotive ignition systems, which began in 1970, has been increasing. Due to this, electronic ignition designs began requiring sophistication, giving rise to the distributorless approach. The distributorless approach, in turn, has made IGBT the most cost-effective and reliable...

For the first time in six years, Airbus lost the annual battle for plane orders to rival Boeing.In January, the U.S. plane maker BA announced that it recorded 1,044 net orders last year. That was better than the 790 orders received by its European rival.Boeing...

When the sixth-generation Audi A6 (we’re counting 5000s and 100/200s to be parts of the A6 family) arrived in the U.S. at the end of 2004, we were busy with the lusty V-8 A6 Quattro 4.2. After road and comparison tests of the 335-hp V-8...