Questions tagged [nose]
For questions about the nose of aircraft.
29
questions
17
votes
2answers
4k views
What are these bars on an F-16's nose?
I've always wondered what the purpose of these "bars" on the nose of the F-16 (and some other military aircraft) are. Are they sensors (if so, what kind)? Are they lightning strips? I can't ...
0
votes
1answer
176 views
Why does the Tu-134UBL have a sharp/pointed nose cone?
Russian/Soviet aircraft design has always intrigued me, and even more so when coming across this photo of the Tupolev Tu-134UBL with its pointy nosecone.
Having looked up the performance ...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
Other than the 747, are there any other current, recent or planned airliners with a nose door option?
Boeing has recently announced that the 747 program is coming to an end. One of the key features of the freight 747s was the nose door, which facilitated faster loading of freight and allowed the ...
0
votes
1answer
306 views
Why does the A320 still have this old fashioned nose?
Another answer stated that Airbus was less focused on just brand image, and more on aerodynamics, explaining the more rounded nose of it's 320 vs the 737's. But it still has flat cockpit panes which ...
2
votes
2answers
367 views
Blunt noses subsonic drag - why a complete ellipse?
At subsonic speeds, blunt noses - both fuselage and airfoil - are good for two reasons:
the need to maintain attached flow at varying angles of attack.
it has less surface area for the volume, ...
12
votes
1answer
1k views
What are these hooks and tassels on the nose?
What are the hooks and tassels hanging down from the nose of this aircraft?
3
votes
2answers
178 views
Why don't the noses have the same de-icing metal surface like that of the wing's leading edge, engines, tail, etc.?
For reference, let's take the A320. The nose is painted like the rest of the body.
Image Source
8
votes
1answer
2k views
What was in the noses of airliners before the weather radar?
At the time of the first Lockheed Constellations, airliners fitted with a weather radar were not common, and the navigator was not placed in the airplane nose. Thus, the nose seems to be mostly dead ...
36
votes
6answers
18k views
Why does the SR-71 Blackbird sometimes have dents in the nose?
On many pictures (maybe on most of the pictures) part of nose looks hammered or slightly smashed, or bent.
Please note these 2 symmetric dents just behind nose spike:
source
source
On other ...
0
votes
1answer
373 views
Why is the nose cone of SU-34 white?
The title says it all.
Can be clearly seen for example in this image:
(image source: Wikimedia)
The rest of the jet seems to have a camouflage.
1
vote
1answer
239 views
What is the reason for the strips on the nose of the Embraer E175 [duplicate]
Recently I boarded a KLM flight with an Embraer E175, when I noticed the strips on the nose
(see image, marked with the black circle).
Own image
This Embraer E190 also has it:
Image source
...
3
votes
1answer
452 views
What were the Concorde's emergency procedures for an uncommanded droop-nose extension in flight?
The Concorde had a droop nose, which swung down during taxi, takeoff, and (especially) landing, so that the pilots could see where they were going without the long nose getting in the way. During ...
4
votes
1answer
296 views
Aerospike nose cones for supersonic jets?
Not to be confused with aerospike nozzles. This is about the big pin-like rod in front of ICBM nose cones.
This answer (from Space) about aerospike nose cones notes that one of the potential ...
33
votes
5answers
8k views
Why, until recently, were smooth nose sections not popular?
Why, until recently, were smooth nose sections not popular? By smooth I mean without a break between the nose and windshield. (The question focuses on airliners.)
Seeing the Starliner (left) and DC-7 ...
32
votes
3answers
8k views
How serious is an impact like the 10/2017 Delta Airlines suspected bird strike?
Recently, there was an incident where a Delta Airlines charter flight carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team was struck by an "unidentified object". Delta's official statement claims that
...
16
votes
2answers
2k views
What is this nose cowl mounted display?
(YouTube) A crop duster's nose mounted display.
It looks like a poor man's HUD to keep the display and the outside view at roughly the same focus distance, but what is its function?
10
votes
1answer
4k views
Is the nose cone of the MiG-21 adjustable in-flight?
In some of the photos I saw of the MiG-21, the nose cone was extended and in others it was shortened. So, is the nose cone of the MiG-21 adjustable in-flight to allow for increased/decreased air flow?
...
14
votes
4answers
4k views
Does it make sense to do an emergency landing without nose gear in order to reduce stopping distance?
Would a pilot decide to land without the nose gear down to increase friction if for example all the engines have suffered a flame-out and there is only a very short runway available ?
5
votes
1answer
470 views
What is the object on the nose of this HondaJet in this marketing video?
In the third Hondajet marketing video there is a sword-like object visible on the nose of the aircraft.
What is this used for?
6
votes
1answer
5k views
What is the angle of attack of horizontal stabilizer?
It 'appears' that in most flights the horizontal stabilizer is set for positive angle of attack.
So does this produce an 'up force' (lifting force) on tail thus making the aircraft nose-heavy?
Or ...
5
votes
1answer
403 views
Why are passenger and cargo airplane noses manufactured separately from fuselages and then put together?
I was wondering why the fuselage of a passenger airplane is not built along with the nose? It might be difficult to build fuselage and wings together as one unit, but nose is a small part. Then why is ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What is a mushing glide?
Source: Wolfgang Langewiesche - Stick and Rudder; An Explanation of the Art of Flying
Why is it called a mushing glide?
In this glide, does the aircraft point its nose less (or more?) steeply?
How ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
What does this statement about steep descent mean?
Source: Wolfgang Langewiesche - Stick and Rudder; An Explanation of the Art of Flying
In the first chapter the author mentions, in a glide, if you want to descend more steeply, you want to want to ...
20
votes
2answers
6k views
What is this hole in the nose of the A330?
In this question, there is an image of a ladder leading to some hole in the bottom of the nose of an A330. What is that hole for?
Source
0
votes
0answers
264 views
What are the aerodynamic differences between the nose designs of the CSeries and the Boeing 737? [duplicate]
The Bombardier CSeries and the Boeing 737 are two aircraft in the same class. Their nose shapes are very different from each other though as can be seen in these two images. What are the major ...
18
votes
2answers
8k views
What are these lines on the nose of a Boeing 737?
What are these lines on the radome?
You can also see them here:
What are they and what is their function?
Source: AviaFilms
51
votes
12answers
33k views
Why is the nose of the Mig-21 shaped so differently compared to other fighter aircraft?
If you look at this picture below, you will notice that the nose portion of the Mig-21 has a unique conical shape which is completely different from the nose of the F-16.
(Source)
(Source)
So what ...
4
votes
4answers
3k views
Why does the bottom part of an aircraft nose curve upwards?
As you can see in this picture the bottom of the fuselage curves upwards to form the nose.
22
votes
2answers
9k views
Why do Boeing and Airbus have distinctively different nose designs?
Boeing aircraft generally have a pointy nose, which seems to me to imply better aerodynamic qualities, less drag etc. Airbus aircraft on the other hand have rather bulbous noses.
Is this difference ...
