Unanswered Questions
1,353 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
13
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0
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506
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Who is this flyer seen in Oakland, California c. 1929?
Who is the man on the left? Second from left is W.A. "Sandy" Sanders, third is Denny Wright, and fourth is Clyde Sunderland.
Oakland, around 1929.
12
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0
answers
264
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+100
What is the raised triangle on the left side of the Garmin G1000?
Looking at one of the official Pilot's Guides shows what looks like could be indicator LEDs inside it, but it doesn't appear to be referenced.... Not that I could find.
Link to Cessna Nav III Pilot's ...
12
votes
0
answers
264
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Are there any analyses of GA tie-down failures?
After a big harbor storm, there are frequently analyses of why boats break free of their moorings. This information is used to improve upon best practices, resulting in fewer boats breaking free and ...
11
votes
0
answers
297
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How to interpret flight schedule data from before 1987
I'm trying to interpret schedule data from before 1987 (see example).
Example line:
...
10
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2
answers
876
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Do constant maximum lift to drag ratio variable pitch propeller exist?
Are there variable pitch propellers, where pitch is set so that the blades constantly are at their maximum lift to drag ratio AoA, whatever the incoming relative wind speed & direction?
Such a ...
9
votes
0
answers
861
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How did Soapy get to fly Hornets?
Allegedly, in early June 1983, while flying a Sea Harrier during a NATO exercise off the coast of Portugal, Royal Navy's Sub-Lieutenant Ian "Soapy" Watson found himself in a rather ...
9
votes
0
answers
732
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How can I convert a frozen ATPL from South Africa to an Iranian one?
I have got a frozen ATPL license from South Africa and I'm from Iran. I came back home last year and I have converted my CPL/IR license to the Iranian piloting license by doing Air Law and Human ...
8
votes
1
answer
252
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Why do some FAA letters of interpretation appear to be removed from the LOI database without any apparent explanation?
I've encountered scenarios over the years in which a person has an old legal interpretation saved somewhere on their computer or a private server on the internet that they whip out during an internet ...
7
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0
answers
123
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How to find the history of a particular NOTAM?
I have a tower at 1434 feet MSL and it has inoperative tower lights for at least 2 years. I can find a current NOTAM but would like to find out the history of the NOTAM. The current NOTAM is:
NOTAM #:...
7
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0
answers
152
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What older regulations and exemptions does Boeing's 737 line benefit from?
Boeing is occasionally accused in the press of keeping the 737 competitive by being able to avoid newer regulations and standards, either through being previously certified or by other means.
The ...
7
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494
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Why do the spoilers on the 737 only deploy to the flight detent after a flaps up landing?
Following an all flaps up (no flap) landing, the SPEED BRAKE
lever will not move beyond the FLIGHT DETENT and the spoilers
will not fully deploy (for reference this is stated in the Fcom 9.20.14 rev ...
7
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0
answers
404
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Why is this placard on a Boeing 737 NG?
I was working on the cockpit of a Boeing 737 and was intrigued when I saw this placard. From what I know this has to do with Citibank being a lender or something along those lines.
Why would this be ...
7
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0
answers
238
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Can a non-US registered aircraft be based in the US?
I am a Swiss citizen and I might have to move to the US for a couple of years. I own a small plane in Switzerland (HB-registered) and I'd like to take it with me to the US. As my stay in the US would ...
6
votes
0
answers
527
views
Engine Bearings Damage in Radial Engines
Studying the P47's dive performance in DCS, I noticed how it's easy to damage the engine bearings if you windmill the prop at high speed.
Doing some research, I discovered that all radial engines are ...
6
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0
answers
488
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What does the A340's underwing bulge (plastron) look like?
From Wikipedia:
From the start, engineers noticed that the wings were not stiff enough to carry the outboard engines at cruising speed without warping and fluttering. To alleviate this, an ...
5
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0
answers
2k
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Why isn't Yamaha EPeX300Ti more popular in aviation?
The answer to this question might be obvious to experienced aviators. But as an armchair enthusiast, I really couldn't find a satisfactory answer anywhere on the internet.
Below two pages came from ...
5
votes
1
answer
403
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Where does the FAA define the dimensions of Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) airspace?
The airspace over the United States is classified into various areas of "alphabet" airspace (A, B, C, D, E, G). This is known as "regulatory" or "rulemaking" airspace ...
5
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0
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445
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When did FedEx acquire it's current callsign and airline ID's?
FedEx currently uses the callsign "FedEx" and has the IATA and ICAO ID's of FX and FDX respectively.
Back in the 1990's they used the callsign "Express" and the IATA code was FM. (...
5
votes
0
answers
537
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Why is the F-104 Starfighter’s afterburner thrust not greatly impacted by altitude?
Here is a page from the F-104 flight manual. It shows the flight envelope for the F-104 Starfighter with the powerful J79-GE-19 turbojet engine:
I have a question regarding the shape of the ...
5
votes
0
answers
431
views
How did the Blackops 'quiet one' helicopter muffler work?
Back in the Vietnam War era, special ops needed a quiet means of inserting soldiers behind enemy lines to install eavesdropping equipment. They modified a Hughes 500 to do the job. One of the things ...
5
votes
1
answer
268
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Do any airports other than Mataveri restrict the number of airplanes that can fly within their sphere of influence at any one time?
Mataveri International Airport (SCIP), located on Rapa Nui (Easter Island; Isla de Pascua) in far southeastern Polynesia, somewhat famously, bans more than a single airplane from flying within the ...
5
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0
answers
213
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What is the current state of the practice regarding surveillance and surveillance data integrity?
I am experiencing difficulties in finding out exactly how air traffic surveillance works in practice, and more specifically what is done to verify the integrity of surveillance data.
ADS-B and other ...
5
votes
0
answers
176
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How do active blades work on helicopters?
Can someone throw some light on 'active blades' as used in helicopters? I'm mostly interested in the use of piezoelectric material and actuators.
How are the actuators able to sense the change of ...
5
votes
0
answers
221
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Is there a limit for which vision can be corrected to 20/20 vision for being a pilot?
I have 20/400 vision and can be corrected to 20/20 vision with glasses.
Does having 20/400 vision disqualify me from getting a pilot license?
Would it prevent me from getting the required medical ...
5
votes
0
answers
408
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Does anyone know what this set of aviation wings signifies?
I stumbled upon this set of aviation wings whilst searching through a box of old things, though I'm at a loss as to their origin, and what they symbolise.
Judging from the lack of skill used to craft ...
5
votes
0
answers
2k
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Can I buy a A320 FCOM, FCTM and QRG as non-pilot?
I am very interested in the Airbus Systems. I really like the FCOM of the A320, there are some of them on the internet.
However, I like holding physical books in my hands more, than reading them on a ...
5
votes
0
answers
122
views
What is the FAA Approval Basis for an FMS upgrade on a Part 25 aircraft?
Does anyone know of a recent approval for an upgrade from a Universal UNS-xx FMS to a Universal UNS-1Ew FMS on a FAA registered aircraft, other than a TC, TC update or an STC?
I am looking for the ...
5
votes
0
answers
150
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Is EASA B1 equivalent to DCAM B1?
I am from Bangladesh. Bangladesh has EASA 147 approval.
Is EASA B1 equivalent to DCAM B1?
Will Bangladesh accept the license?
If I want to convert the DCAM license to EASA license what do I have
to ...
5
votes
0
answers
998
views
What is the value allowed for runway transverse slope?
What is the range allowed for transverse slope for runways used by commercial aviation?
5
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311
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How is the required motor power calculated for a quadcopter?
I've been trying to find the required motor power for a quadcopter. I first calculated drag power and then I made a linear trend line for motor power against motor weight. I made the motor power 1.5 ...
5
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0
answers
2k
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What is "one flat movement" of a screw on the fuel control unit?
I'm looking to do a N1 low idle speed adjustment oa King Air B350 with the PT6A-60A engine. There is a note saying that one flat movement of the low idle speed screw in the FCU increases N1 by 3.5%
...
5
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0
answers
268
views
Why is this G-AIRMET's valid time earlier than its issued time?
For this G-AIRMET map, why is the valid time earlier than the time it was issued?
5
votes
1
answer
542
views
Why is there no Maltese Cross in this non-precision approach's profile view which has a FAF?
I am wondering why this chart does not show the FAF with a maltese cross as it is used in non-precision approaches to depict FAF.
5
votes
1
answer
791
views
What job opportunities are there for low time pilots in Malaysia?
Does a new pilot who has just obtained ATPL license has job opportunities?
When I search at pilot job offered on Internet, they mostly required more than 3,500+ flying hours. What I knew about those ...
5
votes
1
answer
430
views
Can pilots take multitools on board in Canada?
Can pilots in other countries or Canada carry Swiss army knives onboard on commercial flights? Passengers are not allowed to do that in Canada.
5
votes
1
answer
487
views
Do Red Bull Air Race aircraft make use of nitrous oxide injection?
Microsoft Flight Simulator X contains Red Bull Air Race missions where the player flies an Extra 300S through a race course and makes use of Nitrous Oxide injection for the engine. While I have heard ...
4
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0
answers
92
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Why was the short field takeoff procedure changed from 1978 (flaps UP) to 1979 (flaps 10°) on the Cessna 172?
The Cessna 172N was produced for model year 1977 to 1980 (according to wikipedia). The first two years the short field standard procedure (i.e. "the checklist") says to set flaps up (or 0°), ...
4
votes
1
answer
174
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Why does the left-backswept wing have more leading edge suction on an oblique wing?
In this paper, it states:
The leading edge suction of the left backswept wing is larger than that of the right forward-swept wing at subsonic speed, and the lift vector of the left wing inclines ...
4
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0
answers
194
views
Which side of an obliquely swept wing will create more lift, and why?
Which side of an obliquely swept wing will create more lift? By "obliquely swept wing" I mean this:
This answer states that the overall lift will decrease due to an effective decrease in ...
4
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0
answers
174
views
Have any countries considered allowing supersonic flights overland?
The Concorde (partially) failed due to the lack of overland flying permissions, which in turn was due to the loud boom experienced by ground observers. But (in theory) it would be perfectly safe to ...
4
votes
0
answers
243
views
Could MH370 happen again today?
This month being the 10th anniversary of the tragedy that shocked the world, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, I wonder if this could happen again today.
Can I pilot of a airliner make an airplane "...
4
votes
2
answers
610
views
Aircraft continuously circling before landing (not holding)
On Flightradar24 I saw an Airbus 320 circling a lot before landing.
My best guess is for some reason the aircraft had to stay in air for longer time due to unknown reasons. If this is the case, why ...
4
votes
0
answers
149
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How does the Allison (now Rolls-Royce) CX-31 centrifugal compressor achieve a pressure ratio of 10?
Centrifugal compressors typically have pressure ratios up to around 7 or 8. But Rolls-Royce has a graphic showing the evolution of their line of small turboshaft engines that shows the compressors ...
4
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0
answers
338
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What do I need to do to fly a Microlight to France?
I wish to fly a C42 to France from the UK. I can file the flight plan from Skydemon, but I have an NPPL, so I believe I need to obtain permission from French authorities and maybe do other things.
...
4
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0
answers
91
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Does the FAA Publish the Latitude/Longitude of Parking Locations?
In Jeppesen charts, it's known that they provide the latitude/longitude of gate locations at airports. I was wondering if the FAA had a source for the same information, like their international ...
4
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0
answers
230
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Why Ryanair flies from both Stansted and Luton as they are very close
I am doing a research on my future trip from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland and noticed Ryanair flies from both Luton and Stansted to there. Those two airports are quite close to each ...
4
votes
0
answers
89
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Why do some turbofan-engined Caravelles, but not all, have an anti-shock body at the root of the horizontal stabilizers?
Many turbofan-engined Caravelles have a prominent anti-shock body where the horizontal stabilizers attach to the vertical tail, about a quarter of the way up the latter. (Turbojet-engined Caravelles ...
4
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0
answers
213
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Why did this flight descend way below usual path?
I flew on UAL2086 last night which is a regularly scheduled flight from KIAH to KLAS, this particular plane was a 737-900 - N79402. We took off early and had no issues until we arrived in Arizona when ...
4
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answers
2k
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What exactly is the difference between HIALS and HIALS-II lighting systems?
What exactly is the difference between HIALS and HIALS-II lighting systems? The symbols at the beginning of the runways are very different and I cannot classify them in a particular way. But in ...
4
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0
answers
589
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RR Ultrafan: Why the dramatic change of fan blade design?
The Rolls Royce Ultrafan prototype has been in development for a few years and has usually been seen in the media with very distinctive curved leading edge design as such:
However, this week (...