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24
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4 answers
Do similar angles on a plane make it more stealthy?
I learned in my intro to engineering class at my college that 5th gen fighters (which are stealth aircraft) are designed with similar angles to evade radar.
Why is this true?
Also, does the angle matter? Many of these modern fighters looks to have…
Keegan
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Can a sonic boom produced at 60,000' be heard on the ground?
The Concorde normally cruised at an altitude of 55-60,000 feet, but wasn't allowed to fly over populated areas due to the noise it produces. Can the sonic boom of an aircraft at 60,000 feet be heard on the ground?
Ethan
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Why is a part from a Boeing 777 being analysed by Airbus?
Since MH370 was a Boeing 777, why are they taking the suspected wing flaperon to Toulouse, France?
Are some spare parts made by Airbus?
Schultz Hartmut
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24
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Where did the "K" identifier prefix for US airports come from?
Airports in the United States are (mostly) three letters, prefixed with a K. Where did this standard originate? Why K?
This is similar to "where did the U.S. N registration letter come from", but different!
egid
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24
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What are the differences between a helicopter engine (turboshaft) and an aircraft engine (turboprop)?
Given the fact that most helicopters nowadays use turbo shaft engines and many aeroplanes still use turboprop engines (which are essentially turbo shaft engines with a propeller), how do you differentiate between a helicopter engine and an aircraft…
user8823
24
votes
4 answers
Are nuclear bombers themselves damaged after dropping bombs?
Shock waves resulting from low intensity explosions can easily reach 10,000m/s. About 5% of the energy released in a nuclear air burst is in the form of ionizing radiation: neutrons, gamma rays, alpha particles and electrons moving at speeds up to…
anshabhi
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24
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How much radiation is an airline pilot exposed to in a year?
Flying exposes us to more radiation since we are closer to the sun, and there is less atmosphere to protect us.
Consider an airline pilot flying on a routine and frequent basis. How much radiation is absorbed per flight hour, and per year?
kevin
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24
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In what way are the Concorde's engines considered efficient?
The Concorde is powered by a bunch of Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbojet engines. Much has been said about how efficient they are at speed, and the fact that they allow long-range cruise at Mach 2 because of how fuel-efficient they are.
If I…
ithisa
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What is "detonation" in a piston engine?
Recently, I saw this question, which included a rather alarming quote:
Full throttle operation with carburetor heat on can cause detonation.
Woah! That doesn't sound good. In fact, I would have figured aviation engine manufacturers would have…
raptortech97
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Why does the US use two types of aerial refueling?
There are two main types of aerial refueling, the boom and the drogue. The US uses both, while most other countries use just the drogue.
How are they different and why does the US use both?
fooot
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How should I deal with a passenger experiencing hypoxia over the Grand Canyon?
I am taking my mom for a trip over the grand canyon. My mom lives at sea level, whereas I live at 5000ft, and workout at 8000ft daily.
The VFR lowest route over the Grand Canyon is 11,500ft MSL. If I am flying over this with my mother and she starts…
Keegan
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6 answers
How much does it cost to give an airliner a fresh coat of paint?
Just a random thought I had: the weather gives a jet's paint job a battering; meaning they need to be resprayed approximately once every 5-10 years. (See How often is a passenger jet aircraft painted?)
Roughly what might a paint job for a 777 like…
Danny Beckett
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Is there a legal requirement to tell your doctor you are a pilot?
Specifically if I visit a doctor in Canada who is not a CAME for my regular aviation medical, do I have to tell him/her that I have a pilot's licence?
You can imagine why I'm asking. I just explained to someone that I'm supposed to mention this to…
brian
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How frequently do aircraft get struck by lightning?
We have several questions here about what happens to an aircraft when it gets struck by lightning (e.g. this question), and at least one answer from a former pilot who knows he was struck once and thinks he was struck other times. How frequently do…
FreeMan
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Does weight and balance of an airplane matter more on takeoff?
On a few international flights with non-full cabin, the crew has asked no one to move to open seats until the plane has finished take-off. I assumed this was just to force people to sit down during take-off and not cause problems, but when I asked I…
user-2147482637
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