All Questions

15,715 questions
139 views

What is the formula for the bank angle required for a turn in line-abreast formation?

Imagine we have a line-abreast formation of aircraft, with differing airspeeds, turning around a central pivot point, like points on the radius of a phonograph record, with an equal amount time per ...
20 views

Why would an aircraft drastically reduce in speed and then accelerate during landing?

I was on a flight today and I noticed that as we were approaching to land, the plane drastically reduced its speed for few seconds and then regained its speed. Can somebody tell me why?
20 views

On Sunday, I was on a flight in Greece, on a A320. I was sat just forward of the wings. Someone sat in the isle seat opposite me, asked if she could move to the back to sit with her friend, since the ...
74 views

What is the effect of the Load Factor on wing Structures?

I am quite confused with the definition of Load factor and how it applies to the wing structures of an aircraft. For example, you have an Aircraft being subjected to a Load Factor of 2 and whose ...
15 views

LDM Message to SQL server [on hold]

is there a solution to save the content of an LDM message to my SQL DB I am trying to build an application that can read LDM Msg and store it into my SQL server for making statices
1k views

Why are APU engine generators rated in kVA and not kW?

Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) generators seem to be rated in kilo-volts-amperes (kVA) and not kilo-watts (kW). Are kVA not the same as kW? Is there a reason why the generator is rated in terms of kVA ...
220 views

Why can’t we perform CONFIG 1+F Takeoff in the following conditions as per the MEL?

I was reading in one of my company notices that we can’t perform config 1+f takeoff on the Airbus A320 if we have the following faults. SFCC SLAT CHANNEL FAULT ADR 2 FAULT IR 2 INOPERATIVE Could ...
102 views

When do wings not matter?

At what speed or altitude does a plane become a rocket? There are rocket powered planes but when does thrust vectoring replace the wing?
170 views

When rearranging the lift force equation to solve for lift coefficient instead of lift force, why is the numerator often given as F not 2F?

the standard description of the Lift force affecting the lift surface is: $$F={\dfrac{1}{2}}\rho v^{2} SC_{L}$$ the basic rearrangement gives the following definition of the lift coefficient:  C_{...
228 views

How much lift does the wing attach fitting actually carry?

How do I calculate the lift force that the the bolt that join the wings to the fuselage of a strutted or braced airplane carry? I know in a cantilever airplane,the bolts have to carry all of the lift ...
472 views

How is Reynolds Number derived and used?

Reynolds number is the ratio between inertial forces and viscous forces according to wikipedia. However, I still do not understand its derivation process and how to, for example, calculate the ...
45 views

What happens to Cessna electric flaps that are moving when power is lost?

On final in a C182T you move the flap control arm from 20 to FULL, and when halfway there, the breaker pops (or BUS1 fails, a wire falls off, etc.) Does the flap stay where it is, slide back to 20°, ...
12 views

What is the difference between VFR Flyways, Corridors and Transition Routes?

What is the difference between: VFR Flyways VFR Corridors VFR Transition Routes I can find a Flyway chart on the reverse side of the TAC chart and also Transition Routes in the TAC chart. But where ...
80 views

Can ADS-B used for voice communications?

Everyone knows the radio communications doesnt sound great altough they work perfectly. But can the brand new ADS-B communications be used for carrying audio signal? Would it be clearer? The ADS-B ...
207 views

How is the JFS manual hand pump operated on an F-16?

The JFS (Jet Fuel Starter) on an F-16 allows for two attempts to start the engine. https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-start-the-engine-on-an-F-16-Fighting-Falcon However, if this fails, there is a ...
3k views

Could a plane be constructed to be fly in fixed-stick roll-stable circles?

According to https://aviation.stackexchange.com/a/12511/973 it is not possible for a plane to aerodynamically recover from a roll disturbance. Is that an inherent limitation of how planes could be ...
175 views

Which was the last Boeing crash that didn't send its black boxes back to the US?

I couldn't find an answer online, so I am asking the community. The real question is how frequent it is for a Boeing crash not to send the black boxes back to the USA, and a reply to title's question ...
239 views

Why did this aircraft take off in the opposite direction compared to the one used by other flights right before/after it?

I recently took a weekend trip to Naples and went to admire the city from above at the Certosa di San Martino panoramic viewpoint which, it turned out, was also offering a distant view at NAP ...
49 views

How to properly activate a flight plan

Ok, so you have a flight plan filed (over internet, phone, company or however), go to the aircraft and get in the cockpit. So you call the controller and request IFR or VFR as appropriate. What is ...
1k views

How do I find the floor of controlled airspace on sectional charts?

So, I understand finding floors and such when seeing something a fraction like 45/10 or 39/SFC, but I've been reviewing and gotten a couple of questions that look like this: What is he floor of the ...
97 views

May turn rate indicators (and turn coordinators) be calibrated to be accurate at all airspeeds, or only for one?

2 related questions: may a turn rate indicator be calibrated to be accurate at all airspeeds, or only for one? Likewise for a turn "coordinator". The meaning of "accurate" intended in this question ...
1k views

Can old passenger airplanes be refitted with latest engines to extend their life and efficiency?

I was wondering if this might make sense as commercial aircraft design has not changed significantly (from the outside) in the last 50 years?
60 views

What kind of microphones does aviation use?

Do they use the dynamic ones or cheap ribbon ones? Also why are these microphones so small? I guess they dont use condensers. (I am yet to see an 3.5mm jack (which is used both on the C172 and the ...
168 views

How to determine the compressive force in the spars of a strutted wing?

How does one calculate the compressive force that the inner section of a strutted or braced wing (from the strut attach point to the wing root) experiences? I know how to calculate the tension in the ...
18k views

Since there are no toilets on smaller aircraft, how do you deal with the inevitable?

How do you handle business on a small plane on long flights? For example a cross country in a C-172.
18k views

How would an airplane land if the on-board radio breaks down?

Is there a special protocol for a situation where the on-board radio communication equipment suddenly breaks down? Would the pilot be able to land on a busy towered airfield or would they be forced to ...
109 views

What does Phase 3A mean for avionics?

I've learned about Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 electrical systems. But recently I've faced an issue about replacement of Phase 3 Common Display System (CDS) Display Units (DUs) with new Phase 3A CDS ...
176 views

Causes of High CHTs

I have a Long EZ with a Lycoming O-320 E2D. It had a complete top-end overhaul two years ago, in June 2017. All four cylinders were relined, and pistons and rings were replaced. Since then the ...
35k views

Why does the Boeing 737 have 5 x the passenger fatalities of the Airbus 320?

I thought I'd compare the accident rates of these two similar, competing, very successful aircraft. ...
107 views

Does pumping fuel to each wingtip affect roll trim in a stabilized turn?

If an aircraft is stabilized in a constant-bank, constant rate turn with no sideslip, and then we pump 200 gallons of fuel from a fuselage tank to a tank on the tip of each wing, without changing the ...
96 views

What will be the performance penalties of increasing the wing area of a delta winged aircraft to obtain a lower approach speed?

Delta winged aircraft such as the Dassault Mirage III have an approach speed of 170 knots as specified by the manufacturer. The Mirage F1 was designed to have a lower take off and landing speed than ...
2k views

How can lift be less than thrust that is less than weight?

Physics in schools teaches two contradictory and mutually exclusive things: That the upward lift force on an airplane in flight equal its weight (Lift = Weight = Mass x Gravity). This is based on ...
138 views

Can Python be used onboard systems on aircraft or military jets? [on hold]

Was working on a python related to avionics, came across a serious doubt whether code written in python would compile or run on a real time OS used in on board systems.
119 views

How are electronic instruments and other equipment powered in a glider?

Radios and other electronic devices must be battery-powered. What sort of battery - and does its capacity impose a limit on flight duration, or can they be recharged in flight with a turbine?
171 views

What is the purpose of the shuttle valve in a Piper Arrow's landing gear system?

This is the PA-28R-201 landing gear hydraulic system diagram. I am wondering how this shuttle valve functions. Research I have done indicates that a shuttle valve blocks one attachment to the valve ...
109 views

What do pilots like to avoid during cruise flight? [on hold]

I had the opportunity to talk to a pilot once and he told me that during the cruise phase of a flight he likes to avoid the following things: Turbulence to increase comfort of the passengers ...
55 views

What is the FAA regulation for the 3 mile / 1,000' separation for a commercial airliner? [duplicate]

I need help finding the Number/Citation for the FAA regulation/order that states commercial airliner separation should usually be at least 3 miles laterally, or 1,000 feet vertically. I cannot find ...
155 views

Is the transition altitude around Denali still 18 kft AMSL, and, if so, how is this handled?

In North America, the transition altitude - the altitude below which everyone reports their altitude in feet above mean sea level (AMSL) and sets their altimeter to whatever the weather dictates that ...
230 views

Why were these crash location not located via ELT?

On Jan 14th 2019, at 9.10 Indonesia time, the CVR of the crashed Lion Air JT-610 has been found. Another vital device was found earlier. There are three modern airplanes crashed in to water in ...
3k views

Aviation headsets have Noise Reduction and a larger jack (1/4") than most PC headset counterparts (1/8"). But there are many excellent quality PC headsets with sound-proofing materials which eliminate ...
564 views
+100

Non-fueled, bladeless, minimally-noisy aviation engine — Science fiction or real theoretical science?

As a non Aeronautics expert I ask if non-fueled (electric?) vehicles which are minimally-noisy only science fiction or a real theoretical scientific concept aimed for close or very far future ...
67 views

How are crews managed after a diversion (far from hub)?

While reading one of the reports of flight diversion, I started thinking about how airlines manage aftermath of the diversion especially for long haul transatlantic flights. Many of the reports say ...
189 views

What is a “KALP114A” ATC regulation?

My flight (in Spain) was delayed for 6h and after I submitted the claim the airline worker answered me that it was delayed due to KALP114A regulations imposed by ATC, but I didn't find any info, that ...
75k views

How much is the minimum safe distance between two planes in-flight?

According to FAA regulations, how far should a commercial jet be away from another plane in-flight? How about military planes? They get really close when in formations... Is there a minimum distance?
304 views

How long can a commercial airliner fly at 90deg roll?

For how long can a commercial airliner fly at a 90deg roll angle ? Or can it at all ?
1k views

Does engine failure shut off the auto-pilot?

After answering this question it got me wondering whether there can be a situation where a complete flameout of engines could cause a serious loss of control if the auto-pilot were to continue to try ...
3k views

How do internally carried IR missiles acquire a lock?

On aircraft that carry their IR missiles on external stores, like the F/A-18, an IR-missile acquires a lock by having its seeker being directed to the target heat source by whatever means and the ...
89 views

Is there a Risk of Tail Tipping during Push-back of a passenger aircraft?

I remember that there were countless incidents occurred in which the aircraft sits on the tail as the aircraft was heavily loaded at the back of the cargo and/or cabin compartments or the cargo ...