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1500 questions
32
votes
1 answer
Why did flying boats in the '30s and '40s have a longer range than land based aircraft?
I just learned that until shortly after world war 2, flying boats had a longer range than land based aircraft
In the 1930s, a flying boat route was the only practical means of transatlantic air travel, as land-based aircraft lacked sufficient range…
JanKanis
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32
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4 answers
What kind of assistance can another aircraft provide to an incapacitated pilot?
A recent incident unfolded as follows:
An aircraft overflew the planned destination and did not respond to radio calls on any frequency.
ATC decided the pilot might be incapacitated and asked another pilot whether he could get close to that…
Roman Odaisky
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32
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3 answers
Why are commercial aircraft windows typically oval instead of circular?
Pretty much what the title says. Surely a circular window would allow more window area while not compromising on strength?
Some planes(Gulfstream jets) do have circular windows. Is there a reason for this? Does it have something to do with fitting…
pirocks
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32
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4 answers
How are anti-aircraft missiles tested?
How are anti-aircraft missiles and counter-measures tested?
When they design an anti-aircraft missile, how do they test it so that it actually locks on to a target and destroys it? Do they simply fly a plane in the air and then fire a missile at it…
dwjohnston
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32
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5 answers
Why do these aircraft in long term storage have air and power connections?
With the Covid-19 crisis many thousands of passenger aircraft have been put in storage. In this Bloomberg article from July 2019 shows several aircraft in what appears to be storage with covers on engines and cockpit windows. They also appear to be…
D Duck
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32
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6 answers
Has any accident been prevented by bending or breaking the rules?
I wonder if there is an incident that pilots saved the plane or minimized the damage by bending or breaking the rules like Sully? (As it's known Sullenberger started the APU at first which was the 15th thing in QRH.)
Thanks in advance.
Hakan
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32
votes
1 answer
Why are commercial flights not (publicly) trackable in some locations?
Flying BA15 from London to Sydney, I noticed that the flight is not tracked over Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, except for a short ping.
Is this for security reasons? Do planes disable their ADS-B, or is the data somehow restricted? Since position…
Mantriur
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32
votes
1 answer
What is this second smaller runway next to London City Airport?
I was looking at London City Airport (EGLC) on Google Maps today when I noticed the remains of a very small runway marked 10/28 just across the water from City Airport's main runway. It can be seen here.
To my surprise I couldn't find any mention of…
Sean Duffy
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32
votes
4 answers
Is it normal for gliders not to have attitude indicators?
This answer shows a picture of and describes a "modern" glider instrument panel, with two variometers, airspeed indicator, altimeter, compass, temperature gauge and radio controls.
Notably (at least to me) missing from this is an attitude indicator…
cjs
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32
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Why doesn't the A380 use its outboard thrust reversers?
One thing I noticed with the A380 is that it only seems to use the inboard thrust reversers while landing. I suspect it relates to FOD ingestion or perhaps damaging the runway. This is strange though, because the 747-8 (which also has a large…
Bryson S.
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32
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6 answers
How much, generally speaking, does it cost to learn how to fly?
One of my life goals is to learn how to fly a plane. I can't do it now due to time constraints, but I am curious: How much, in general terms, does it cost to learn how to fly? I.e. piloting lessons, license fees, etc. I would be doing it in the US.
Jason
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32
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3 answers
Why are on-board computers allowed to change controls without notifying the pilots?
Recently we've had the 737-MAX debacle, where it increasingly appears that the MAX on-board MCAS system repeatedly would issue nose-down events, leading to the Lion Air crash, and possibly another
On the Lion Air flight, when the MCAS pushed the…
Machavity
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7 answers
Have there been any incidents caused by an inability to shut down an engine?
I read many items on the avherald.com site where it says "engine shut down during flight" or words to similar effect.
I'm wondering if there are any instances where an engine could not be shut down or the pilots had trouble shutting down the engine…
user871199
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32
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5 answers
Should you wait to switch to the ground frequency until after crossing a runway?
I've never had the opportunity to fly into a controlled airport with parallel runways, so I've never actually faced the situation. But, in the interest of being ahead of it, when would it be prudent to switch to ground frequency with this clearance…
falstro
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32
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6 answers
Why is it rare for small aircraft to have winglets?
I've noticed that winglets are very rare on small aircraft. I wonder why this is the case. Wouldn't they have the same advantages, especially because they travel at low speed? Or is it just a wrong impression I got and they aren't that rare?
André Stannek
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