How Aircraft Hydraulic Systems Work: Everything You Need to Know

When you look at an airplane soaring thousands of feet above the ground, one thing is certain — precision and reliability keep it in the sky. Behind the advanced avionics and powerful engines lies another unsung hero: the aircraft hydraulic system. From landing gear deployment to precise flight control, hydraulics provide the raw power and accuracy that pilots rely on for every safe journey. At its core, a hydraulic system uses pressurized liquid to perform heavy mechanical work. The principle sounds simple, but in aviation, every detail is engineered with safety, dependability, and performance in mind. How the System Works The working principle is rooted in Pascal’s Law: pressure applied to a confined liquid is transmitted equally in all directions.Here’s how it plays out in an aircraft: The pilot flips a switch or moves a control lever. A hydraulic pump pressurizes the system. Valves direct the pressurized fluid to actuators. Actuators move mechanical parts-like extending landing gea...