User niels nielsen

56 votes

What prevents a small plane like a Cessna or Piper from flying as high as a jet?

answered Jun 29, 2021 at 3:07

38 votes

What could explain the fact that during 1976-80, I used to hear commercial jets make sonic booms while flying overhead?

answered Jul 7, 2020 at 1:08

36 votes

Accepted

Why do airplane indicators start at 12 (o'clock), unlike cars that start at 7?

answered Mar 7, 2021 at 21:27

35 votes

Why are the colors of the MiG-15's attitude indicator inverted?

answered Jan 26, 2020 at 3:20

30 votes

Accepted

Why does Boeing use a trim wheel in the 737 and not their other products?

answered Apr 1, 2020 at 17:39

30 votes

Do wings actually flex upon landing (especially hard landings)?

answered Feb 17, 2022 at 20:07

29 votes

Low visibility spins and spirals: difficult-to-understand explanation of false perception

answered Mar 17, 2021 at 20:13

28 votes

Why do older pistons crank for a while before starting?

answered Aug 20, 2022 at 23:10

27 votes

Why is there a maximum landing weight limit?

answered Jan 7, 2020 at 7:33

27 votes

Accepted

Why does a stall decrease lift, rather than increasing it?

answered Sep 18, 2018 at 6:05

26 votes

How does increasing the size of a jet engine make it more fuel efficient?

answered Dec 21, 2019 at 5:47

26 votes

How can you move the thrust reverser to another part of the airplane?

answered Sep 17, 2022 at 22:12

26 votes

How and why can multiple people control the Boeing B-29?

answered Apr 23, 2021 at 2:22

25 votes

Why are the guns on the AC-130 not mounted on the underside of the aircraft?

answered Aug 28, 2020 at 15:55

25 votes

Accepted

How can flying high minimize drag and increase fuel efficiency?

answered Oct 16, 2018 at 1:17

23 votes

Accepted

Why do flying wires hum louder in a sideslip?

answered Apr 25, 2021 at 17:19

23 votes

How did the propellers on the B-29 stop perfectly in sync?

answered Nov 16, 2022 at 19:06

22 votes

Why do these aircraft in long term storage have air and power connections?

answered Jun 28, 2020 at 21:11

22 votes

Why are piston engines so unreliable in airliners?

answered Dec 21, 2018 at 0:13

21 votes

What does shimmy in nose landing gear mean?

answered Nov 15, 2019 at 7:22

21 votes

Why are radial engines louder than inline engines?

answered Aug 22, 2022 at 16:06

20 votes

Do airliners reduce their angle of attack to maintain lift = weight as fuel burns off during cruise?

answered Jul 26, 2022 at 4:03

20 votes

Can electricity be harvested from magnets in jet engines?

answered Sep 5, 2022 at 23:32

20 votes

Why is carb icing an issue in aircraft when it is not an issue in a land vehicle?

answered Jan 23, 2023 at 18:50

19 votes

Were propeller airplanes significantly more "scary" to fly in compared to modern jet ones?

answered Jun 16, 2021 at 5:51

19 votes

Accepted

What is the purpose of a freewheeling unit in an helicopter, if a centrifugal clutch is already present?

answered May 17, 2020 at 17:42

19 votes

Are planes allowed to fly in circles, and is there a minimum legal altitude for takeoff and landing?

answered Jun 26, 2020 at 20:54

18 votes

Has anyone burned hydrogen in a gas turbine?

answered Jan 21, 2020 at 17:56

17 votes

Does a 4 bladed prop have almost twice the thrust of a 2 bladed prop?

answered Aug 6, 2019 at 16:30

17 votes

Why hasn’t the Wankel rotary engine seen more use in aircraft?

answered Jul 20, 2020 at 4:58

Stack Exchange Network

366 Answers

What prevents a small plane like a Cessna or Piper from flying as high as a jet?

What could explain the fact that during 1976-80, I used to hear commercial jets make sonic booms while flying overhead?

Why do airplane indicators start at 12 (o'clock), unlike cars that start at 7?

Why are the colors of the MiG-15's attitude indicator inverted?

Why does Boeing use a trim wheel in the 737 and not their other products?

Do wings actually flex upon landing (especially hard landings)?

Low visibility spins and spirals: difficult-to-understand explanation of false perception

Why do older pistons crank for a while before starting?

Why is there a maximum landing weight limit?

Why does a stall decrease lift, rather than increasing it?

How does increasing the size of a jet engine make it more fuel efficient?

How can you move the thrust reverser to another part of the airplane?

How and why can multiple people control the Boeing B-29?

Why are the guns on the AC-130 not mounted on the underside of the aircraft?

How can flying high minimize drag and increase fuel efficiency?

Why do flying wires hum louder in a sideslip?

How did the propellers on the B-29 stop perfectly in sync?

Why do these aircraft in long term storage have air and power connections?

Why are piston engines so unreliable in airliners?

What does shimmy in nose landing gear mean?

Why are radial engines louder than inline engines?

Do airliners reduce their angle of attack to maintain lift = weight as fuel burns off during cruise?

Can electricity be harvested from magnets in jet engines?

Why is carb icing an issue in aircraft when it is not an issue in a land vehicle?

Were propeller airplanes significantly more "scary" to fly in compared to modern jet ones?

What is the purpose of a freewheeling unit in an helicopter, if a centrifugal clutch is already present?

Are planes allowed to fly in circles, and is there a minimum legal altitude for takeoff and landing?

Has anyone burned hydrogen in a gas turbine?

Does a 4 bladed prop have almost twice the thrust of a 2 bladed prop?

Why hasn’t the Wankel rotary engine seen more use in aircraft?