Questions tagged [airplane]
A heavier-than-air fixed-wing aircraft propelled by one or more engines.
151
questions
71
votes
15
answers
18k
views
Why don't commercial airplanes carry Earth-observing instruments?
Governments and private companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars to send Earth-observing satellites to capture imagery or scan the terrain with lasers or radars.
Meanwhile, commercial planes ...
- 1,251
44
votes
11
answers
16k
views
Is it possible to fly backward if you have really strong headwind?
Is it possible to fly a plane backwards if you have a really really strong headwind? I mean when you are aloft, you have positive airspeed and airflow over the wings but you have negative ground speed....
user40208
25
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Why does airflow separate from the wing during stall?
What causes the airflow separation from the airplane wing, that triggers a stall?
To be more precise, what is the detailed explanation of the physics for why flow separation occurs at certain speeds ...
user41812
23
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can this aircraft wreckage be identified?
I live in Salinas (central coast California) and there’s an old plane wreck (located within the boundaries of Toro Park County Park in a remote section). On a hike yesterday, we located and took some ...
- 231
22
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What plane is most similar to the LEGO Firefighter Aircraft 42152?
I want to identify a LEGO Firefighter Aircraft: LEGO set #42152
Is this model based on a real plane? Does anyone have any ideas?
22
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Why does the Antonov 225 needs 6 crew members?
Why does the Antonov 225 need 6 flight deck crew? What are they called and what do they do?
user40208
21
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What's the function of the plate behind the wheels of the Pilatus Porter?
Anyone knows what's the plate behind the wheel of the Pilatus Porter for?
- 363
20
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Why do non-aerobatic aircraft have a negative G limit?
Why do airplane wings have limit load of both positive and negative g's (e.g., the Weedhopper ultralight has a load factor of +5 and -2gs). Why not just have a positive limit load since most airplanes ...
- 767
18
votes
7
answers
8k
views
What is wrong with a high-speed landing for an ultralight or GA aircraft?
Is it okay to land an ultralight or a general aviation plane at a speed higher than the recommended landing speed for such plane? Will there be any damage if the descent rate is very low?
- 2,905
17
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Why are airplanes described as the safest method of transportation? [closed]
I will have my first flight tomorrow. It is my first time that I get into an airplane, and by the time am writing this post, I am feeling anxious and stressed a lot. I even don't talk to anyone as it ...
- 295
17
votes
5
answers
7k
views
How do planes maintain constant speeds at cruise altitudes?
I'm a noob so pardon my ignorance. So my understanding is that as the plane gets lighter during the flight, its mass reduces therefore reducing the lift needed to maintain the altitude. At those ...
16
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Other than the rest areas for the crew - what else is in the 'attic' of an aeroplane?
So I am seeing some information about crew rest areas in an aeroplane which typically just sit above the passenger cabin.
In the image of the a350 XWB for example you can see those areas in the front ...
- 261
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can anyone Identify this FLY FAIR seaplane?
This photograph, from my family's collection, of a high-winged, dual rotary engine, amphibious airplane, probably in the 1930's, appears to be an excursion plane at a fair since it has "FLY FAIR&...
- 1,221
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What is a biplane propeller and how efficient is it?
Lazair ultralight series II used biplane props to absorb more power from the engine....so my question is what really is a biplane propeller and are they efficient in comparison to a four bladed prop?
- 2,905
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What are the benefits of mounting an engine above the fuselage?
I'm wondering what advantage/disadvantage, if any, does mounting an engine above the fuselage give? This question comes up after seeing the Macchi M.33 below:
The engine mounted in such a way does ...
- 1,147
13
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why are the angle-of-attack sensors on most airplanes mounted on the forward fuselage rather than at the wing roots?
A source of reliable angle-of-attack information is important for airplanes, as flight at an excessively-high angle of attack can cause the airplane to stall, which is generally considered to be an ...
- 28.1k
13
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can someone identify the Make and Model of airplane that this fuselage belonged to?
This gutted fuselage remnant was photographed by my mother at Whaler's Bay on Deception Island in Antarctica in 1994. Deception Island is directly south of the Falkland Islands in the narrow area ...
- 1,221
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are glass cockpit or steam gauge GA aircraft safer?
All else being equal, considering the reliability of instruments, human factors, etc., is it safer to fly in a piston-single GA airplane with steam gauges or with a glass cockpit?
In other words, if I ...
- 6,564
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Do pilots need a different license for each type of aircraft?
I have heard before that even an experienced Boeing 747 pilot can't operate a Boing 787 Dreamliner without attaining the specific license first.
- 109
10
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Why are airplanes called ‘she’?
What is the reason that airplanes in English have a female gender?
Please illuminate the historical or scientific reason.
- 890
10
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Is a magnetic compass required for VFR (day) flight in powered aircraft?
As the title suggests, Is a magnetic compass required equipment for VFR (day) flight in powered civil aircraft? I have always been under the impression it was.
My question arises from reading CFR ...
- 1,514
9
votes
2
answers
520
views
What is the type of the seaplane at the end of runway 18L on Schiphol Airport?
From 47 to 52 seconds into this video we can see a seaplane parked in a small pool of water. What type of plane is this and when did the plane fly for the last time?
- 921
8
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is the backup for a glass cockpit, if a plane loses power to the displays/controls?
I'm assuming there is still power to the rest of the plane - maybe it's an unrealistic scenario.
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How does an airliner adjust and move exactly over the coloured lines before stopping in front of the jetways?
How does an airliner adjust and move exactly over the coloured lines before stopping in front of the jetways?
8
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Is it legal to make emergency landing on roads?
Recently I've seen many videos of planes landing on car road. Is this legal? Does this only apply to only USA or even other countries?
user40208
8
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How does an airplane move itself in the runway? [duplicate]
Basically do they move themselves using their powerful jet/propeller engines to propel themselves forward or do they just use an engine that powers the wheels used for landing?
I'm not really asking ...
- 183
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Which aircraft has the best fuel mileage per person?
I was looking at a BD-5 that got 32 miles to the gallon for one person and wonder: Which plane gets the most fuel mileage if you divide the number of passengers against the mileage of the plane? ...
- 1,006
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Lift distribution on biplanes
This Wikipedia page about biplanes says
in a wing of aspect ratio 6, and a wing separation distance of one chord length, the biplane configuration will only produce about 20 percent more lift than ...
- 767
8
votes
2
answers
694
views
Can anyone identify this old airplane?
Can anyone identify this old airplane, and/or what era it's likely to be from? The photo is from northern Italy, and it's the only photo I have. I'd be very grateful for the help!
- 81
7
votes
2
answers
665
views
Unusual airplane shown in Google Earth
At first I thought it was a plane that had its wings removed for some reason.
Then I thought it might be a lifting body, but I don't think so. Any ideas? This was in Jacksonville, FL; I can provide ...
- 71
6
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Without wind, would a plane go straight if the pilot let go of the controls?
If you let go of the steering wheel of a (properly maintained) car, it will typically go in a straight or nearly straight line. Would a powered airplane in no-wind conditions do the same thing?
- 6,564
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What are the disadvantages of using just rudder to roll an airplane?
Ultralights with slight dihedral will roll and yaw on rudder input (e.g the Bloop 3, Maxair Hummer) so some don't have ailerons for the sake of simplicity. Is this kind of control input advisable, or ...
- 2,905
6
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is there a modern day "replacement" for the de Havilland Beaver?
Is there a modern day equivalent or replacement for the Beaver's Payload, STOL and floats capabilities? By replacement, I mean that it can fly into the same airstrips under the same weather with the ...
- 1,266
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What is the purpose of drag and anti drag wires?
What are drag and anti drag wires,and how important are they to the performance and strength of the wings of an airplane?
- 2,905
6
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Why are general aviation planes so expensive? [duplicate]
My question simply is why are GA planes so expensive?
I can understand that an airliner is an incredible money sink simple because of the size, complexity, development cost and especially the ...
- 257
5
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Can you put a propeller on the back of a plane, and have it go forward?
So, I was thinking about how drones work, and I can't figure out how drones with propellers at the rear of the drone can still go forward. I'm not that experienced in aviation so if this is a basic ...
- 77
5
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How to slow down while maintaining altitude
Is reducing throttle/power already enough? Or do I have to adjust the pitch as well? If so, I suppose pitching up as well? If pitching up is needed as well, is it because as speed decrease, there is ...
- 349
5
votes
1
answer
375
views
A commercial jet with rear tail-mounted engines and 3+3 seat pattern?
I have just spotted a cameo in one of the old CSI:NY episodes. External shot showed a commercial jet, rather big aircraft, with rear tail-mounted engines. While internal shots shown 3+3 seat rows ...
- 4,162
5
votes
2
answers
260
views
Positions of drag wires in a bay
Take a good look at the small dots • on the bays of this two spar wing.
My question is:
Are the drag and anti drag wire as seen in bay 1 supposed to connect to the root of the compression tube
Or ...
- 2,905
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can I use PVC pipes for the rib on the wings of my homemade airplane? [closed]
Can I use a PVC pipe as the rib of the wings of my homemade airplane?A rib is already load tested, and it failed at 40kg of weight and it is supposed to hold just 10kg in flight.
- 2,905
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is it possible to hack an airplane while it's moving (in general)?
I recently searching Airbus Careers section, and I can say that I saw too many Cyber Security job positions. It was saying in the job description that there is a need of having knowledge about ...
- 265
4
votes
1
answer
421
views
Is the term "small" applied differently between piston engine planes and jet engine planes? [closed]
My understanding was that "small" covered planes up to 12,500 pounds, no matter the engine type.
Would that be gross weight/max takeoff weight?
Brought to mind by the two recent Cessna Citation ...
- 8,765
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why do autogyros exist? [duplicate]
This question has been intriguing me for some time. In Autogyro the rotary blades merely acts as what fixed wings act in normal aircrafts to generate lift. So why not simply have a fixed wing instead ...
- 143
4
votes
5
answers
676
views
Can you fly 2000 miles on an engine that costs less than $500k? If so, what type of engine?
Ok so Im exploring ways to bring cargo and medical supplies to various rural cities in say Africa without relying on ground infrastructure. Just short and cheap runways spread around the continent. It ...
- 59
4
votes
1
answer
340
views
What is this aviation quote?
I remember hearing a quote about aviation that was something along the lines of “asking a pilot why he loves flight is like asking an artist (or a painter?).....”. For the life of me, I cannot ...
- 421
4
votes
1
answer
743
views
Is Rutan's method of foam core construction obsolete?
Is Rutan's method of foam core construction obsolete, or is it used on other fibreglass designs as well?
- 1,039
4
votes
2
answers
432
views
What would happen if a hot air ballooon was punctured in mid-air?
I am writing a script for a film where a hot air balloon is punctured and it falls to the ground. There are two teenagers in the balloon when it is in the air. What I would like to know is how fast ...
- 41
4
votes
3
answers
455
views
Freezing cold cabin housing just under a window
I flew on a Boeing 737 plane yesterday and was sitting next to 2 windows. When I tried to rest my arm on the inner housing of the cabin during the flight, I noticed that the inner cabin housing just ...
- 43
4
votes
1
answer
506
views
Does 'Fat Albert' Have any significant modifications?
The Blue Angels use a C-130 known as 'Fat Albert' in some of their shows. Other than the paint job and smoke, are there any significant differences between 'Fat Albert' and a standard C-130?
- 421
4
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Is it best to use a thick airfoil or an undercambered airfoil for slow speed flight?
The more the thickness,the more the frontal resistance,hence the more the drag a thick airfoil will produce.
Under cambered can help increase lift without increasing the airfoil thickness , therefore ...
- 2,905