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1500 questions
53
votes
5 answers
Locked out of private jet - how do you get in?
Ok I'm not a jet owner, I'm a novel writer. I wanted to get my airplane facts right for the story.
Say my character has a mid-size (can go overseas) private jet. Has a door lock on the outside door and cargo bay. The bad guys stole his keys, so now…
Angela
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3 answers
Can you feel passing through the sound barrier in an F-16?
Is it possible for the pilot to feel passing through the sound barrier in an F-16?
What about other modern aircraft, will you feel anything? Do you need to go back to really dated designs before you can notice this, is it a problem of the past, or…
AlphaCentauri
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53
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9 answers
Why don't commercial passenger safety videos ever explain policy instead of merely dictating it?
British Airways announced and published their new in-flight passenger safety video:
I'd like to draw your attention to two pieces of instruction given in the video, but also stated in every passenger safety video I've ever seen on every airline…
Dai
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53
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3 answers
What are those things at the wing tip of an aerobatic aircraft?
See:
The radially placed needle-like things that resemble a snowflake in the first picture.
The triangular structure in the second picture.
In the third picture, the object placed on only one wing
In the last one, it's also placed on one wing but…
hfc
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53
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9 answers
Pilot passed out in a small GA plane. What can a passenger do?
There is another question about airliners and if someone not qualified could land them. My question is about the steps I should take to stay alive in a small GA plane.
Let say a friend of mine invites me aboard a small aircraft (like Cessna 172 or…
Quentin H
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53
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3 answers
Why does the landing gear control have 3 positions (up/down/off) on Boeing 737-800?
I've noticed that Boeing 737-800's cockpit has a 3-position landing gear lever. During takeoff, the pilot moves the lever from DOWN to UP and then to OFF position. What's the point of the OFF position? Why not simply have UP/DOWN positions?
Claudi
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53
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7 answers
Why do fighter aircraft manufacturers still focus on making their planes more dogfight-worthy?
In today's age, when dogfights are simply a relic from the past, why do manufacturers keep on increasing their aircraft maneuverability, in order to make them better dogfighters. It is more understandable if they were to make stealthier or more…
Madhav Sudarshan
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52
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3 answers
What is a "runaway supercharger"?
During World War 2, my uncle was a navigator for a B-17G bomber based in the UK. On return from a bombing run over Frankfurt, the crew was forced to bail out over Belgium at 3000 feet altitude. My uncle and 3 of his crewmembers were rescued by…
Steve Kaz
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52
votes
6 answers
Why are the lights inside commercial airplanes turned off during take off and landing?
Before landing and taking off, I notice the lights inside commercial aircraft are greatly reduced. I don't buy the explanation of power saving in case full thrust is needed as nowaday lights don't need a lot of energy and the crew says we can use…
Manu H
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3 answers
Has this Google Maps imagery of 4 planes on a runway been tampered with?
The image below is of Google Maps (30 May 2018) of Amsterdam Schiphol's Aalsmeerbaan (36R).
It shows 4 planes on the runway and a fifth that's about to land. When you zoom in, all planes seem identical.
Has this image been tampered with or could…
mgr326639
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52
votes
9 answers
Why don't aircraft use nuclear propulsion?
Nuclear propulsion research for aircraft was abandoned during the 50's.
Why wasn't it revived ever?
user8792
52
votes
3 answers
How do hot air balloon pilots avoid collisions?
There are many places in the world where hundreds of hot air balloons are flown in close proximity to each other. How do the pilots steer them away from each other to avoid mid-air collisions?
Wind blows all of them in one direction and I'm sure…
Hanky Panky
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52
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9 answers
Could airliners use a steam or electric powered catapult for take-off?
This would have the obvious benefits:
Less runway needed to take-off
Fuel savings
Faster turn around times for airlines
Could this be implemented in busy airports?
Firee
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52
votes
4 answers
Why are many jet aircraft designed to cruise around FL350-370?
If the flight distance permits, the B737-800 will cruise at FL350, the A320 a little bit higher...
Flying at FL370. Photo: Live from the Flight Deck by GolfCharlie232 (reframed)
Elements such as time to reach cruise altitude, engine and airframe…
mins
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51
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7 answers
Why did the pilots in Top Gun: Maverick invert at the crest of the mountain before descending?
In Top Gun: Maverick, the pilots plan to perform a bombing run in the valley of a craterous mountain range in F/A-18s. At the crest of the first side of the crater, the pilots were instructed to roll to an inverted attitude, start their descent,…
t-mart
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