Most Popular
1500 questions
23
votes
3 answers
Was the Shuttle Orbiter in contact with air traffic control during its descent & landing?
The Shuttle Orbiter crew were obviously in contact with ground control in Houston during their landing, but were they also in contact with any air traffic control, especially once they reached US airspace? Was US ATC involved in the landing in any…
FreeMan
- 16,245
- 16
- 87
- 166
23
votes
6 answers
What are the advantages of the angled flight deck layout used by some aircraft carriers?
I've been flying aircraft carrier approaches in a flight simulator lately and noticed that the carrier has an interesting layout. I have an image below where the landing runway is in red and the takeoff runway is in blue.
I can understand the…
Dylan
- 1,115
- 2
- 10
- 10
23
votes
6 answers
When are procedure turns not required?
Today, at my part 141 flight school I failed a stage check (flight test), because I did not perform a hold. I'm in com-multi training and was shooting a single engine approach in a Beechcraft Baron. I was inbound from the SSW preparing to shoot the…
Blake.W
- 853
- 5
- 12
- 17
23
votes
1 answer
Is the autorotation in San Andreas movie realistic?
San Andreas is an awful movie, but given how helicopter-centric its plot is I'm wondering if they even got the autorotation landing correct? In the middle of the movie the hero is cruising in (I think) a Bell 412 when the engines fail. He tells…
feetwet
- 2,274
- 5
- 25
- 50
23
votes
3 answers
What does the term "tanker" mean when used in regards to a passenger airliner?
In a comment on this answer:
Airlines will tanker fuel if it's substantially cheaper at another airport
I've wondered what that term meant before, and now this comment leads me to think that airliners will carry more fuel than what's required for…
Steve
- 2,218
- 1
- 20
- 32
23
votes
1 answer
Which trigonometric algorithm does an FMS use to determine distance between waypoints?
When entering waypoints into an FMS, the FMS calculates bearing and distance between them.
Does it use "normal" spherical trigonometry equations, or go for the more accurate Vincenty algorithm which takes the earth to be an oblate spheroid?
Ugo
- 746
- 4
- 15
23
votes
4 answers
Would an aircraft with contra-rotating propellers longer than the plane's wingspan be able to fly?
I enjoy taking the time to try and visualize how fictional aircraft might actually work in reality. Unfortunately there are some that seem highly impractical from an engineering student's point of view.
One in particular is the Bella Ciela from "The…
Kyle Lowery
- 333
- 2
- 5
23
votes
2 answers
What are the different wing planforms? What are each's advantages? Where are they commonly used?
I remember reading that there are four common wing planforms:
Rectangular
Eliptical
Tapered
Sweptback
I'm sure there are more. What are the different types of planform out there?
Each must have its own advantages and disadvantages. What are…
ryan1618
- 14,900
- 31
- 102
- 187
23
votes
1 answer
What are the accident rates for kit built aircraft vs. normal aircraft of the same model?
I know that some manufacturers both sell kit and finished version of their aircraft. For a fair comparison of accident rates, i was wondering:
What are the accident rates for kit built aircraft vs. normal aircraft of the same model?
Are the…
Thunderstrike
- 33,169
- 6
- 131
- 195
23
votes
8 answers
Could a blown wing ever be powerful enough to lift an aircraft at zero forward velocity?
Theoretically, could an aircraft, using any manner of self generated air flow over the (fixed) wing, ever gain enough lift in order to take off (or just simply lift off the ground) at zero forward velocity?
I am guessing that if an aircraft and its…
Russ Boys
- 231
- 1
- 2
- 3
23
votes
4 answers
Why don't we have yokes that look like steering wheels?
This question came across my mind when I was thinking about cockpit design vs car design: why don't we have yokes that look like steering wheels?
The first advantage I can think of is more gestures to hold the yoke. You can hold a steering wheel in…
kevin
- 39,731
- 17
- 148
- 278
23
votes
5 answers
What is the standard rate of turn for heavy aircraft?
I have heard and read many times that for "heavy aircraft", they use a standard rate of turn which is 1.5° per second (4 minute turn), but I have never found an official source which addresses this. Although... I'm actually not even sure where the…
Bret Copeland
- 9,821
- 5
- 60
- 62
23
votes
3 answers
When a large commercial jet touches down, is it committed to stopping?
I was reading about flight RWAF9268 earlier today when a questions popped into mind. When a large commercial jet touches down, is it required to try and come to a complete stop? Or is it allowed to take off again if part of the craft fails (like…
Jae Carr
- 24,145
- 38
- 131
- 228
23
votes
1 answer
Can you identify this jet turbine stage?
I was just wondering if anyone could give me any info about this turbine rotating stage I picked up at a yard sale today.
The stage measures 8-1/2" to the outside of the blades. The only markings I can find are TCYC5065 TT6776.0. It has 58 blades on…
Jason Freier
- 231
- 2
- 3
23
votes
1 answer
What exactly distinguishes a beacon light from a strobe light?
Different sources seem to have different opinions:
Wikipedia: Aircraft warning lights:
These lights include landing lights, red or white flashing beacons, wingtip strobes, and wingtip navigation lights.
Beacons and strobes are flashing…
robsn
- 413
- 1
- 4
- 10