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Why has the A340 not been fitted with only three engines? The A340 was created because the airlines wanted an aircraft they could cross the atlantic ocean with (They couldn't with their twins because of ETOPS so far). So Airbus upgraded the A330 and added two engines. Because of the four engines, the plane was now allo...	Adding a third engine would require re-designing the tail section, and shifting the CG considerably at the same time. Adding engines to the wings allows the minimum amount of changes to be made to the aircraft.
Can two captains fly an airliner? If the First Officer cannot take his role for some reason, and the company only has another Captain available, can two captains fly the airliner, assuming they routinely fly as captains for that company in the aircraft of that type? Can one of them simply take a FO role for that flight...	As long as the two Captains hold proper type ratings for the aircraft they suffice for the required two crew members needed to fly the plane.
Which fixed-wing aircraft has the highest number of required flight crew members? Most modern airliners require two pilots to operate. Older airliners require a flight crew of three: two pilots plus one flight engineer. Has there ever been an aircraft where the number of required flight crew members is extraordinarily...	And some military aircraft with five or more - The Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI apparently had a flight crew of seven (commander, pilot, copilot, radio operator, fuel engineer, and two engine mechanics)
Can a MEI CFI give a valid flight review in a plane for which he is not endorsed? A friend of mine is working towards his initial CFI. I'm helping him work through regulatory, weather, and other knowledge stuff when time permits. During our most recent ground session he asked me a question that I had never been asked...	As long as it is clearly decided before the flight begins that the CFI is NOT going to act as PIC, there is nothing in the FARs that would preclude giving the customer the Flight Review.
How should I deal with a cable break at low level during a glider winch launch? What should I do when rope breaks at 220-360 ft [75-120m] when there is not sufficient runway to land ahead and not sufficient altitude to make a return manuover and land with the wind direction? <Q> Depends on the wind and the surrounding ...	Fly a triangular, shortened pattern and land in the regular direction. Land straight away if headwind plus sideslip allow for a steep descent.
Is induced drag caused because of the tilt of the wing backwards? In this question: Why is induced drag less on a high span wing? In the answer it was stated that wing tip vortices do not cause induced drag. If this is the case then what causes the induced drag. Thinks about this for 10 minutes What if the Induced d...	Although your explanation isn't entirely wrong, It isn't necessarily the backward tilt of the wing , but the backward tilt of the aerodynamic force .
How do wing tip vortices interact with the airflow on an wing with winglets? If winglets are added to an aircraft, do the vortices still interact with the airflow and create up wash and down wash. If the vortices do interact with the rest of the flow I am wondering how they do it. So basically I am asking if wingtip v...	Strictly speaking, wingtip vortices are only the bit of air that flips around the tip of the wing.
Will air traffic control ever ask a plane to not brake hard on a landing? In another question , somebody asked why an airplane might not deploy thrust reversers on a landing. One of the answers suggested a few options, including: Depending where the gate was, they may simply have wanted use more of the runway to spe...	It could also be that the taxiway you would normally use to leave the runway is blocked by another aircraft or vehicle, and I want you to leave the runway via a taxiway that is further down the runway.
Is there a maximum or minimum temperature for take-off and landing? Is there a maximum or minimum temperature that a plane can take off or land at? <Q> There is a maximum temp but that varies by airport altitude, runway length, aircraft and payload. <S> You can find an answer to that question here . <S> There is not...	It depends on the model of the plane, particularly its engines, the length of runway available, and surface wind conditions. For a minimum temperature, the engines have a starting limitation of at or above -40°C.
Can a GA magneto-spark plug ignition survive an EMP? Can the coil and capacitor (condenser) magneto/spark plug ignition system as exists on most general aviation aircraft survive an EMP? Let's talk about a standard Lycoming or Continental engine. How about most turbine engines? I'll use a PT-6 as an example. I assume t...	One concern is that all discrete electric components have sub-components (usually insulation) that have a maximum breakdown voltage .
Is it possible to upgrade a Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380's engines for greater speed? Is it possible to upgrade the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380's engines (upgrading to a newer engines) for greater speed, if the engines were more efficient and used less fuel at higher speeds relative to distance? If so, what are the m...	If the engines are upgraded to "better" ones, the manufacturer would make it result in increased carrying capacity or increased range (or both), but not increased speed.
Can a human be blown away by jet engines of an A380? Can a human be blown away by jet engines of an A380 at full throttle? If so what is the largest object that it can blow away and cause significant damage? Can it blow away another parked Airbus A380 and cause damage? Can it perhaps blow away the A320 and cause damag...	The jet engines used in airliners are quite powerful and can easily blow away human beings, vehicles and small aircraft .
Why do aircraft have two brake pedals instead of one? Why do aircraft have two brake pedals instead of one? If each pedal controls different sets of wheels e.g. the left wheels and the right wheels of the main gear, is that not a safety flaw given that at any point in time, it is impossible for the pilot to apply an e...	To add to the correct answer: two brake pedals allow for differential braking to steer the aircraft when it is on the ground Heavy aircraft are, well, heavy.
What is this radar-like thing? A friend of mine sent me this picture, which Is somewhere in Miami. But I don't seem to recognize it <Q> It is a wind tee; it serves the same function as a wind sock. <S> It is designed to resemble an airplane from the air so that pilots overflying the field can more easily determine in w...	It's a lighted 'wind tee'.
What is the shed bus in the Phenom 100? I recently came across a part of the electrical system of aircraft named SHED BUS . I am specifically asking for the Embraer Phenom 100. Source (Page 122) , Added red square What is the SHED BUS for and what is it doing? <Q> The shed bus powers non-essential aircraft syste...	A SHED BUS is used to provide power to non-essential systems.
Is there any disadvantage to slipping as a way to lose altitude? I learned how to slip during my powered training as a way to lose altitude when too high and, of course, a way to track the runway center-line during a crosswind landing. Quite a bit more emphasis was put on slipping during my glider training. I guess t...	The only disadvantage might be a slightly higher risk of a low altitude stall due to the uncoordinated flight and presumably low speed. There are some instructors who put more emphasis on slips for energy management.
What is the slowest fixed-wing airplane? It's easy to find information about the fastest airplanes, in different categories (e.g. X-15 , SR-71 , the Concorde etc), but what is the slowest one? Which powered, manned airplane is capable of sustained level flight at lowest velocity? <Q> The Gossamer Albatross is a ...	Gossamer Condor , the first human powered airplane capable of basic maneuvered flight.
Is the MTOW determined by the wheel maximum supported weight? I was on a LATAM flight a couple days ago, and decided to have a read through their VAMOS magazine. As a lot of airlines do, they had a couple of pages on their fleet, and also a double spread on one specific plane. This plane was the 777, which was a littl...	The MTOW determines how many tires of what weight rating are needed.
Why does the U-2 Dragon Lady not have swept wings? Swept wings increase the critical mach number for aircraft with otherwise identical wings ( Source 1 ). The U-2 Dragon Lady is limited in altitude by its critical mach number, as it needs more speed in order to go higher ( Source 2 ), but going faster would put it into...	The stall characteristics of a swept, high aspect ratio wing are extremely unpleasant and require a healthy margin from the stall angle of attack, when flying high requires to fly just at the edge of stall .
Do small civilian aircraft have autopilots? If not, why? Doesn't it make flying safer? It seems to me that automating a small plane should be easier than automating a car (excluding dealing with Air Traffic Control). Is it too expensive? <Q> Many small, light aircraft are equipped with an autopilot today. <S> They can ...	Small airplanes can have autopilots.
Was the miracle on the Hudson saved exclusively by the APU? In the film Sully , (staring Tom Hanks) the APU is switched on straight after both engines rollback, why was this step necessary; Airbus said this was the "15th thing" to do on the checklist. How or why did this step in particular prevent the loss of lives o...	The situation was not exclusively saved by switching on the APU, it was a factor in a chain of events where everything needed to be right - and it was.
Is it okay to divert to another airport in IFR lost comms situations? In the event of lost communications, FAR 91.185 allows pilots to divert to a nearby airport if they encounter VMC conditions en route to their destination. But what if IMC conditions persist? Are they legally allowed to divert to another airport, w...	Comms failure by itself isn't an emergency (see the AIM 6-4-1(b)), but every situation is different and if other equipment fails or you have other safety issues to deal with then diverting might be the best decision.
When did airlines start using seat belts for passengers? When did airlines start using seat belts on passenger flights? <Q> The world's first airline used Zeppelins, and there was no need for seatbelts. <S> In WW <S> I seatbelts were standard issue for pilots, at least in Germany. <S> After the war, the airlines ...	Benjamin Foulois (a United States Army general) is credited with inventing the first seat belt on an aircraft in 1910 ( Wilbur and Orville: A Biography of the Wright Brothers ).
For the elliptical wing, which property is actually elliptically distributed? A well-known "elliptical" wing: One of the 50 Spitfire still flying in the World. Source My questions What is elliptical in the elliptical wing? What is regularly distributed: lift? drag? something else? <Q> It is both the planform and...	On the untwisted elliptical wing the local lift coefficient is constant over span, and changes in angle of attack over the linear range will change the lift coefficient equally everywhere.
What is the relationship between your tail number and air traffic control? Obviously a tail number is used to distinguish yourself from other aircraft, but after the first call, a callsign does the same thing. It is also used for investigation purposes I would imagine, by listening to radio recordings, but are controll...	Controllers may identify a plane by tail number when you are on the ground, but once in the air it is almost impossible to sight a plane this way.
What does the area around the fan blades in the engine nacelle contain? I was intrigued to find this picture below. There was so much space around the engine. So what is inside of that extra space? Or is it just a hollow casing? Image Source Details about the picture as provided in the image source: [Last Year] A ...	This region is usually hollow, with the equipment (like control unit) and tubing coming after the separator wall visible in the photo. This is an aerodynamic structure that slows the air down before it enters the compressor, the pointy bit in your photo.
Why would a pilot want to land with less than full flaps? So for example if I am flying the Boeing 737-800, the FMC gives me three flap settings and approach speeds. Why would a pilot want to fly with anything less than full flaps where possible? <Q> In some scenarios, a faster approach speed is better than a slow one...	Less flaps gives a faster approach speed.
Should I land a Cessna 172 with or without a little power? Cessna 172 landings with full flaps. I have been taught to land with and without power. Give me feedback please. Which way should I continue my training? <Q> This is really a question for your instructor: if you've been taught both methods then he should be abl...	For a soft -field landing on the other hand, it's normal to carry a little power in order to touch down as gently as possible and avoid sinking into the runway surface.
What is the section of the fuselage below the wings called? Is there a specific name for the protruding section of fuselage beneath the wings? Im talking about the area where the landing gear bay often is. In the photo it's where the red Emirates logo is painted. source Some older airliners don't have them, such as ...	So, the usual name is "belly fairing".
How can the Cirrus Vision jet be cheaper than its competition? Cirrus Vision SF50 costs USD 2 million, compared to USD 5 million for comparable private jets. How is Cirrus able to offer a jet at such a substantially lower price? What compromises are customers making when buying this plane versus a competing one (Ec...	The primary differences in performance between the Cirrus and other light jet aircraft is that it's much slower and suffers from 'short legs'.
Why does the Zapata Flyboard Air UL consume so much more fuel/hr than the Mosquito Air? They are both ultralight and abide by FAA ultralight reg 14 CFR part 103. The Mosquito Air is an ultralight 1 person helicopter whereas the Zapata Air UL is a micro jet turbine powered 1 person ultralight hoverboard. They weigh...	Aside from the greater efficiency of propellers over pure jet exhaust, also consider that the XET has a single gas turbine engine, while the Flyboard has six much smaller gas turbine engines. Hovering flight is particularly demanding on fuel consumption.
Can an airline reject a passenger for being overweight? I have a Cessna 172S and despite having 4 seats in the cabin, I cannot take 3 more passengers besides myself as the pilot with a full tank of fuel due to safety in weight balance issues. As the pilot, I'm 100 lbs overweight. Hypothetically, we can imagine a situ...	Airlines have rejected passengers for their size, perhaps more than their weight, specifically for being unable to fit into a passenger seat.
Is there anywhere one can buy or find plans to build a human powered aircraft? I was surprised to find that only two Gossamer Albatrosses were built. Is there any way to get or build an aircraft like that today? (I don't mean design your own). <Q> Yes, contact Todd Reichert, PhD, or Cameron Robertson at Aerovelo Inc ....	Easy flier (Daedalus), plans are out there, just google...
Is it better to shut down the engine(s) or leave it (them) running when a gear up landing is imminent? Is it better to shut down the engine(s) or leave it (them) running when a gear up landing is imminent? I noticed that the pilot in this video chose to shut down his engine before touching down during a gear up eme...	The shutdown the engine school's view is that shutting the engine down lowers the fire risk by cutting off the fuel and engine ignition spark. First is the keep the engine on school because keeping the engine on: Gives you more control of the airplane
Is it a literal hood that's used to simulate IMC? I know this is a basic question, but a lot of Q&As on here talk about being "under the hood" to simulate IMC. My question is, is this a literal hood? Can someone please explain what this actually means to a non-pilot? <Q> When you read or hear the term "under the hood"...	This is another type of view limiting device that can be used to simulate IMC.
How do you know which fuel an aircraft uses? Other than the decals on the plane, how would you know what fuel to use in an aircraft? Where is this limitation documented? For some aircraft, does this limitation include some sort of substitute fuel for emergencies? For example, I have heard that if Jet A-1 is not availa...	Aerodiesel (compression ignition reciprocating-engine) aircraft are typically fueled using Jet-A, and thus will have that on the placard. The POH is normally where this is documented.
Has anyone ever been penalised for buzzing a control tower? Has there ever been a pilot who was caught and penalised for performing a "circus stunt fly-by" next to a control tower? To clarify the question: I mean legal actions took place; for example arrested, license revoked, attended a court martial (if the person...	In January 1954, American TV and Radio personality Arthur Godfrey buzzed the Teterboro control tower with his Douglas DC-3 , resulting in the suspension of his license :
Is there any technical reason that prevents installation of a jet blast deflector at Princess Juliana airport? A jet blast deflector (JBD) or blast fence is a safety device that redirects the high energy exhaust from a jet engine to prevent property damage and injury. Regarding the incident on July 13, 2017 at Pri...	An immobile jet blast deflector could not be built far enough away from the runway end to be safely clear of the landing path.
What happens if Marine One's rotor blades fail? While I was reading news, I came across this image of Marine One : This is Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Citation of Image 1 Citation of Image 2 On a closer look, I see there are two big exhausts just under the blades at the top of Marine One. And there is also a big ...	It is also most probable, and this what usually happens, that if one blade fails, or is lost, the resulting imbalance in the heavy, fast rotating rotor assembly leads to instant breakup of the aircraft.
What is the difference between a glider and a sailplane? The words "glider" and "sailplane" seem to refer to similar or the same type of aircraft. In particular, the Wikipedia articles " Glider (aircraft) " and " Glider (sailplane) " seem to be describing the same kind of aircraft. What is difference between a glider ...	Glider refers to an unpowered aircraft that isn't necessarily optimized to remain airborne in the non-towed state.
In the US, what can be done at an airport when volunteering hours? I am a 15 years old and need volunteering hours for my course work. I am a aviation enthusiast with knowledge of the industry and love for anything that flies. I decided to fulfill my hours at a local airport because I would be helping others doing what...	Some large airports may have volunteer greeter positions (i.e. "Which way to baggage claim C please") available, but I'd start with museums for a closer connection to fliers & flying machines.
Is there any flight school that uses jets as part of their training program? Is there any flying school out there that use "jets" as part of their training program? I mean like a Cessna Citation or Phenom. <Q> Yes, Lufthansa flight training in Bremen uses the Cessna Citation CJ1+. <S> D-ILHA <S> D- <S> ILHB <S>...	I believe Lufthansa's ab initio course uses a Citation as the final stage before joining the airline. FlightOptions at the Sunshine Coast in Australia have a Level D Citation Mustang simulator, and a real Mustang as well.
Do pilots need a clearance to go around? I have read about the missed-SFO-accident and watched the 2:22 movie . I want to ask about going-around (or canceling takeoff) when the pilot is fully aware of an emergency that the tower is not (or is late at acting). According to the reconstruction of the real missed-accid...	A pilot does not need to get clearance for a go-around.
Is it appropriate (legal) to request practice instrument approaches in IMC? I have always requested practice instrument approaches while maintaining VFR (with a safety pilot or instructor). But I was wondering if there are any issues (legal or otherwise) with requesting multiple approaches in actual weather at the end ...	They absolutely will let you fly practice instrument approaches in IMC. It would be very much against the rules to fly in instrument conditions without an IR though.
How much FOD hazard can a Styrofoam drink cup pose? So, the Collings Foundation and their touring warbirds were in town recently, and we went to visit them. While out on the ramp though, my father managed to lose one of the Styrofoam coffee/drink cups the FBO provides (for their complimentary ice water and iced tea, o...	Chances of it causing a real damage are slim but not at all negligible.
How long can an average aerobatic plane sustain 0g? How long can an average aerobatic plane sustain 0g safely? <Q> An aerobatic aircraft (as well as any aircraft) can sustain 0g until the pilot pulls up, the aircraft hits the ground, or reaches terminal velocity. <S> In order to sustain 0g <S> the aircraft must be...	At some point, if you had enough altitude, the drag (wind friction) on the fuselage would prevent it from continually accelerating towards earth and you would reach an equilibrium speed where the force of gravity equals the force of drag and you would no longer feel 0gs.
What are the effects of an increase in altitude upon ESHP of a turboprop engine? This is one of the questions in the ATP material: What effect will an increase in altitude have upon the available equivalent shaft horsepower (ESPH) of a turboprop engine? A) Lower air density and engine flow will cause a decrease in ...	The turboprop engine produces less power at altitude, because the mass stream through the engine is smaller: there is less air.
Is it legal for a balloon to land at a US international airport? Assuming the winds directed a hot air balloon near a US international airport, and the pilot has no other choice than landing, say near the runways/taxiways, would they face legal trouble/fines? <Q> Assuming the winds directed a hot air balloon near a US...	As mentioned in the comments you need a transponder and a 2 way radio to enter certain controlled airspaces (usually those surrounding big airports) and if the balloon is properly equipped it would be allowed to enter and utilize public resources such as airports and landing areas.
Why do military pilots report "gear down" during their traffic calls? I've noticed that military pilots will often say something along the lines of: <airport> traffic, Basher 5-2 left base, full stop, gear down . Why the additional "gear down" call? Shouldn't it be implied that if you're landing full stop, you'd ...	It is not a procedure exclusive to Military aircraft, also gliders report "gear down and locked" when entering the downwind. Because it's what they are trained to do.
Can a supersonic aircraft have winglets? In order to have laminar flow over the wings which helps in friction drag reduction, a number of airfoil designs have been proposed from the past to the latest 737 winglets. But if we design a laminar flow wing for supersonic aircraft, the wing should be very thin which will e...	So yes winglets are possible on a supersonic aircraft, but are rather decoration then useful.
Why are there no 4-winged airplanes? With larger wings comes more drag. So why don't large planes have 4 smaller wings instead of 2 very long ones? <Q> Biplanes are a thing and have been since the earliest days of flight. <S> However, they fell out of favour because they actually have more drag than a correspondin...	You need a certain wing area to support the weight of the aircraft. For over 80 years, the answer has been: one wing (the two wing halves make up one wing).
Is there a landing gear system that extends automatically to prevent belly landing? To my knowledge, most aircraft with retractable gear are equipped with a landing gear warning system that makes repetitive beeping sounds in case the pilots try to land without the gear down. I imagine big jetliners like Airbus and Boe...	Piper's PA-28R and PA-32R aircraft were equipped with an automatic landing gear extension system which would automatically extend the landing gear below 85kts regardless of the position of the selector switch in the cockpit.
When departing IFR, when do I switch from Tower to Departure? When departing IFR from a Class D airport, must you wait until the Tower instructs you to change to Departure? <Q> When operating within class D airspace (operating Air Traffic Control Tower) pilots are to maintain communication with the tower until instruct...	On an IFR flight departing from a tower controlled airport, the tower controller will instruct the pilot when to change frequency to contact the next controller (the IFR Departure Controller). Unless such a procedure is in place, you wait until the tower changes you to the next frequency.
Why did the F-104 Starfighter have a T-tail? The F-104 Starfighter was launched in 1954, nine years after WWII. It had short stubby wings and a T-tail. According to wiki , the short stubby wings caused inertia coupling and the T-tail reduced this. My question is: is that really the reason why the F-104 had a T-tail? ...	The T-tail did increase directional stability of the vertical tail due to the winglet effect, as did the ventral fins.
Is there a KPI to measure average hours flown? I am working on a report for a small charter airline and I want to set a key performance indicator (KPI) to measure average hours flown. Is there a practice in aviation field to consider optimum flight hours for an airplane? An arbitrary example: Let's say I have a Boei...	"optimum flight hours" is keeping the aircraft in the air except for mandatory maintenance.
What are good alternatives to sunglasses for flying? I'm a student pilot and I won't be able to wear sunglasses for 5 months... Now, how am I going to fly? I know you don't have to wear them but it's easier (brightness etc. etc.). Are there any alternatives you can give for flying? I've never tried a hat, is that a goo...	A baseball cap might be a good idea if your airplane doesn't have sun visors.
Why can't this blended wing body trijet airliner fly? I was told in this other question this aircraft was not real, and that it could not fly in this design. I'm now interested in knowing what would prevent it to fly, from an engineering point of view. It looks great... why is it so obvious this cannot work? <Q> A...	It's not so much that it can't be done, but there are challenges.
Would a helicopter with the blades on the bottom fly the same, if at all? I've heard that the pendulum rocket fallacy applies to rotorcraft as well. As stated above, I'm curious to know if a helicopter with blades on the bottom of the body would experience any effects from this. (Yes I know it's impractical and landi...	So to answer your original questions: Yes the helicopter with an underslung rotor would fly, and it would be easier to control than a conventional helicopter.
Can a pilot rated in one category solo in another category without a current flight review? Scenario: A pilot is rated to fly gliders in the United States. The pilot allows his glider flight review to lapse. That pilot now decides he wants to get a type rating for the airplane category, single engine land. Qu...	Per 61.56(c), the pilot in question must have a current flight review to perform solo flights in a glider during training.
Do promotional flight routes have a historical precedent? Right now , a Dreamliner is flying a rather strange path over the USA (see below). The plane took off from Boeing Field airport near Seattle, and is 'drawing' a virtual copy of itself on the map of the USA before flying back home. As flight trackers are a relat...	It's not the first time they do it.
Why are fuel tanks in the wings filled first, and why are they used last? When fueling airliners, why is fuel filled first in the tanks in the wings and then the center tanks? And why do they use fuel from the center tanks first and then from the tanks in the wings? From my research I've found the purpose is not to gi...	Correct scenario: By filling only the wing tanks, the weight of fuel in the wings will counter the bending of the lift. In a crash you'd prefer the fuel to not ignite, but of the two locations, its better burning out by the wings than inside the main fuselage.
What's the point of separating the Alternator and Battery switches? What's the point of having a different button for the battery? Why does the alternator turn on simultaneously with the battery? I need an easy and short explanation, if possible. <Q> I will expand a bit on @Noah Krasser's answer with some situations wh...	To keep your system operating properly a voltage regulator is installed on the alternators direct output.
How do seaplanes do run-up checks without brakes? Usually on run-up you want to check the response of the motor when changing for example the carb-heat (if existent). At least we did so on my intro flight (yey!). To prevent us from rolling onto the active runway we (obviously) held the brakes. Now I wondered how pilo...	More often than not, it was a matter of getting a short ways off the dock, do the checks other than the run-up while moving away from the shore at a 90 degree angle more or less, lift the water rudder, bring the stick all the way back, and do the run-up, all the while letting the aircraft weathervane into the wind.
Can you report a crash landing on an emergency frequency even if you are not at the airport? You see a crash landing near the airport but you're in a car, no other planes have reported the status of the plane, and Approach can no longer contact the plane. Can you report the crash on an emergency or approach frequency t...	In any case, if will do no harm to call the normal emergency services (dial 112 or 911 in some countries).
What regulations are in place for ultralight vehicles flying over US national parks? A flight instructor i met with recently said that flying ultralight over national parks is a crime. The law section of the powered paragliders bible has nothing on parks. One would think that commercial vehicles wouldn't be needing t...	There are no regulations that prohibit operating an ultralight (or any other aircraft) over a national park.
Strange plane-shaped object at UK airport A friend sent me the following image, spotted at an UK airport. Do you have any idea what that might be? It looks a bit like MD-11/DC-10 transport case, but i have no idea. Is something like this used to transport airplanes? <Q> That's a training rig for airport fire crews. <...	That will be a fire trainer, for the airport fire fighters to practise procedures for different types of fire and smoke events.
What is the purpose of a wing Yehudi? Apart from covering the landing gear leg, the Yehudi also increases the wing root cord which allows the build height for the root to increase for the same wing relative thickness. This is useful as the wing has its highest stresses in this area, it is where the wings bending mome...	Structure wise, a low wing thickness at the root is not desirable, because that is where the highest bending moments are: the more distance we can get between upper and lower skin, the lighter we can construct.
What performance issues/symptoms can a pilot expect while taking off above MTOW? Lately I've been flying a Cessna 162 Skycatcher , primary as a cheap way to build time towards the Instrument Cross Country requirement and my glider club's hours requirement to tow gliders. One issue with the 162 is it's relatively low ...	Overweight of 20% useful load can usually be accomodated by technique, you need to know flight in ground effect, use of thermals and, of course, fhe terrain ahead.
How do military radars detect the type of an aircraft? How do the military air defense radars and aircraft radars detect the type of an aircraft and enemy or friendly information? <Q> This depends on the type of radar system and its intended application. <S> You can find a nice bit of history on it here . <S> The ear...	You could make an educated guess as to what type of aircraft is detected by radar, based on size and speed.
Is fuel moved around during flight on a passenger or cargo plane? If so why? Is fuel moved around during flight on a passenger or cargo plane? If so why? Is balance an issue? <Q> Maybe This is dependent on the air frame and varies from plane to plane and not all planes have capability of moving fuel although most larg...	Fuel can be stored there to balance the aircraft - without trim tanks the stabiliser would be set to produce lift to balance the plane, and this causes extra drag. Yes fuel is moved around, and balance is indeed an issue.
How high does the ground effect last? Up to which height is the ground effect still significant enough to be taken into account? Would this height be sufficient to actually fly above the ground, overcoming at least trivial obstacles like trees? The early transatlantic flights were done with heavy loaded planes that ha...	Ground effect only begins to show up when you're within one wingspan of the ground. When moving up from zero height, ground effect diminishes rapidly because the gap between trailing edge and ground opens up and the ram effect vanishes.
Is it practical to use ground effect to extend range in an emergency? Imagine a piston engine airplane (let's say a DC-3) flying at cruise speed and altitude over a calm sea, trying to reach an unreachable airstrip straight ahead, just above sea level. Fuel is very low and ditching may occur at some point even if highe...	Flying in ground effect is a nice way to save fuel and extend the range.
Are planes assigned different climb angles from the airport by the tower? Clearly the angle at which planes take off and climb depends on lots of things (mountains, residential area, aircraft type, wind) but when watching planes take off after another from the same runway, I have the impression that similar aircraft cl...	Planes have different speeds for best climb, and that will result in different take off angles. No, planes are not assigned a specific climb angle by the tower upon takeoff - the tower will not instruct an aircraft to "climb at FPA 4 degrees" or "climb at 1200 feet/min" .
Why are empty pylons weighed down? ( airplane-pictures.net ) Airbus A330 no engine option. Why are empty pylons weighed down? The plausible answer is to maintain the correct center of gravity. But why not just load ballast pallets in the forward cargo compartment, like those used on tail heavy planes on ferry fl...	Without the ballast the aircraft would become a taildragger .
Can pilots wear glasses/corrective lenses inside the cockpit? I was wondering If I could wear corrective lenses/glasses inside the cockpit If I have a certified class 2 medical certificate? <Q> Yes. <S> See Title 14 <S> §67 Medical Standards and Certification. <A> According to the FAA , yes. <S> For a Class 2 Medica...	All current classes of FAA-issued medical certificates allow for the use of corrective lenses in the cockpit.
Why on weather surface charts high pressure is blue and low pressure is red? Is there any relation with the temperature of the air or is it just a standard procedure? <Q> Red/blue for pressure is in no relation to surface temperature. <S> Storms develop where the pressure is very low. <S> Red being associated with d...	The colors of high and low pressure areas are chosen to represent what occurs aloft, not at the surface. The red color is universally associated with evil, suffering, blood, fire... Low pressures are associated with rain, storms, even with hurricanes and tornados...
Which civil airport has the longest runways in total? It's quite easy to google information about which civil airport has the longest runways, but what I'm really looking for (and having a hard time to find) is which airport has the longest runways in total - I mean if you add up all the lengths, disregarding the direc...	The highest average runway length of the 19 civilian airports listed above has Istanbul Airport (LTFM) at 12,877 ft. As Ralph J said in his answer , Dallas/Fort Worth (KDFW) comes first (also worldwide) due to the large number of runways (also highest worldwide, together with KORD).
What aircraft is this flying near Greenford? I live in the suburbs of London in Greenford (near RAF Northolt Base) and today I heard a droning sounds which, albeit from my limited experience, sounded like a propeller plane. I checked my generic flight radar application on my smart phone, no result. I then checked the A...	As far as I can tell, it looks an awful lot like a Beechcraft Baron .
Are there any helicopters with ejection seats? Are there any helicopters with ejection seats? If so, how is the clearance problem with the rotating blades solved? <Q> Many years ago I read about the Kamov-50 helicopter family <S> * being the first helicopters equipped with ejection seats. <S> And Wikipedia verifies ...	The Mi-28 was supposedly designed with an ejection seat system that fires its crew out the side and downward.
Why wouldn't a helicopter ejection seat eject sideways? Or forwards? This question got me thinking . Ejecting from a helicopter is necessarily more complicated than ejecting from a fighter jet or other fixed-wing aircraft. The answer to this question states that ejection-capable helicopters blow the blades first, then ...	Backward acceleration is much more taxing to the body. The first F-104 Starfighters had downward facing ejection to avoid the T-tail, however they fly quite a bit higher than a typical helicopter.
What are the benefits of a non-orthogonal (scissor) tail-rotor? Why is the tail-rotor of some helicopters (e.g., Boeing AH-64 Apache) made of non-orthogonal (scissor) blades? What are the aerodynamic benefits (or any other benefits) compared to the orthogonal cruciform option? ( Source ) <Q> ( Source ) <S> The comm...	This allows for significant reductions in noise.
Does weight affect the fuel burn calculations in a light GA airplane? When calculating fuel burn in say a Piper Archer, I usually just use the conservative estimate of 10GPH, but, does the weight of the aircraft affect my fuel burn? Assuming I have full fuel and am taking off a max takeoff weight, will I still burn t...	At a given speed, a higher mass requires more lift, and more lift implies more drag, more drag requires a higher power setting to achieve the same speed, and a higher power setting means a higher fuel flow.
Where can I get information about the FAA "restricted like" license to fly a N aircraft in Italy / Europe? I have recently bought a N-REG C172 in Italy since 2008 and in fact I have been told by the Italian NAA that my EASA License will be valid limited for flights in Italy. I understand if I wish to fly in other EU co...	Your license will give you a permit to fly an N aircraft only where your original License is considered valid (Europe) and according to ratings and limitations of your original license
How much weight does a thrust reverser add? How much weight does a thrust reverser add to an engine? Let's take the CFM Leap 1B as an example, which powers the new version of the Boeing 737. This engine can produce up to 130 kN of thrust for takeoff, and has a dry weight of 2.78 tons. I could not find how much weigh...	According to NASA , the reverse system of a GE90 class engine can weigh upwards of 30% of the nacelle weight. The detailed weight of the components of the Leap 1B are elusive to find at the moment. There is statistical data available in pre-design books, such as Synthesis of Sub-Sonic Airplane Design by E. Torenbeek.
Why has Boeing used mini winglets on the 737-200? I found mini winglets just in B 737-200. What's the differences between mini winglets and the blended ones which Boeing uses in more recent versions?(picture source ) <Q> When originally Richard Whitcomb of NASA developed the winglets, he developed the split winglets w...	One may be able to make a lighter blended winglet using co-bonded, co-cured composite structure as compared to the short winglet mentioned in the picture which with say bolted joints might end up heavier.
What's the precise meaning of "landing south (north, east, west)" in STARs? "JetBlue six zero two leaving flight level two one zero descending via the Ivane Two arrival landing south." Does "landing south" here mean the aircraft will be landing on the runways north to south? <Q> Depending on conditions, they could com...	"Landing south" means the planes are facing south as they land.
Explain how the infrared flame detector work? For fire detection systems, such as for engine fire detection, how does the infrared flame detector work? <Q> When a flame ignites the various types of materials burn at different strengths, intensities, and <S> -what we care about- wavelengths. <S> In the visible spect...	Infared flame detectors have an imaging sensor that "sees" infared light.
Why aren't there any single turbofan airliner? A configuration which looks like a DC-10 , without engines mounted under the wings. Let's say 737 sized. Let's forget about redundancy security advantages of twin or quad engines, since they're obvious and not my concern about this particular question. One single engine...	Engines do fail from time to time, so there must be a second unit which can take over if one fails. Over time, the desire to increase safety made redundancy the supreme design principle for airliners.
How can I get back up into flying after not flying for over 20 years? I'm a former USAF pilot and former Bonanza owner. Haven't flown private in more than 20 years, but looking to get back into it. A friend who owns a 182 and will fly with me and I know some instructors. I don't even know where my old certificate and l...	Apart from the flight training that other answers have covered very nicely, you may need a new medical certificate. Fly a light-sport aircraft without any medical at all, using sport pilot privileges . If you don’t currently have access to your certificate, but know you possess one, contact the FAA and request an dupli...
What are the differences between FADEC and EEC systems? Can anyone differentiate FADEC and EEC system in an aircraft Engines? As I was working related to Engine controlling. I got confused of FADEC and EECs.As per some of the doc. I read like EECs are a part of FADEC. <Q> Kind of like the microprocessor in a digital c...	The EEC is the Engine Electronic Controller, the digital processing heart of the Full Authority Digital Electronic Controller.
How did the gyro gunsights of WW2 get the range and lead of a target? I just read this article on the gyro gunsight, but I don't understand how it computed range/position to the target and then calculated how much lead is needed. Surely it must have had radar to get range to the target? But I could only find one men...	You had to feed it information about the target size/aircraft type and it used the gyro information from your own aircrafts turn rates to project a reticule circle on the glass.
Is it normal practice to use 25 degrees of flaps when taking off at max weight in a PA-28-181? I recently started renting a plane ( PA-28-181 ) from a new flight school and had to get checked out before I had the "OK" to rent. I had brought 2 family members with me during my checkout because... They wanted to exper...	Setting 25 degrees for takeoff increases lift at the cost of drag, and risk as you are closer to performance limits.
Why does MAP show ambient pressure when engine is shut off? Manifold pressure is the absolute pressure at the intake manifold and increases as throttle is increased and vice versa. However, when the engines are shutoff, the manifold reads ambient pressure. My question is, why does it read ambient pressure when engines ...	With engine not running there is no suction, so the pressure can't decrease and the gauge still shows ambient pressure.
What is the maximum speed for regulation of sonic boom noise? If fuel cost and fuel efficiency were not the issue, what is the maximum speed (air speed and ground speed) that business jets or airliners could travel at without exceeding the maximum noise and sonic boom allowed or as regulated in the USA, Europe and the ...	Supersonic business jets were proposed several times in the last decades, but so far nobody has risked to spend the money it needs to bring one design to a type certificate.
Has there ever been a seaplane with inflatable airbags rather than traditional pontoons? Traditional pontoons are big and cause a lot of drag. It would be nice to retract them like normal landing gear but they are just too big. Has there ever been a seaplane with inflatable airbags instead? They way I imagine it is a ...	If you do a Google image search for "Bell Aerosystems air cushion undercarriage", you'll see pictures of it, as well as a DHC Buffalo and a Soviet attempt. There was an attempt made during the 1950s to build a sea-plane fighter jet with retractable water skis (the Convair F2Y Sea Dart ).
Can the Apache detect infrared (IR) lock? Can the Apache, regardless if it's the AH-64E/D (US) or AH1 Longbow (UK), detect IR lock? I am aware that the Wildcat AH1, Merlin HC3/4 and AH1 Longbow share the same defensive systems that can detect IR missile launch. However, I have yet to find any information suggesting an...	The IR Launcher or TV-Guided missile only requires the targets emission to lock onto, not its own in the example above, so there is no way you can detect being locked onto. It took me a little Googling, but I found one: the Netherlands intends to equip their AH-64Ds with the AN/AAR-57A(V)7 Common Missile Warning System...
What were the safety recommendations following the Aeroperú Flight 603 crash? I just watched the Mayday Air Crash Investigation about Aeroperú Flight 603 and two questions that weren't answered are: Who was responsible What caused the ATC to relay false altitude information to the pilots Has anything changed si...	Immediately review and amend, as necessary, all airplane maintenance manuals to require operators to use only standardized, highly conspicuous covers with warning flags attached in any situation in which static ports would need to be covered.
How does 220 kN of engine thrust create the 700 kN required to maintain the altitude of an A320? On the Airbus A320, the two engines produce about 220 kN in cruise, whose weight is about 700 kN (about 70 tons). The lift / drag ratio in cruise is about 15 (likely higher), meaning in cruise lift = 700 kN and drag = 47 kN...	In any straight-and-level flight regardless of altitude, thrust = drag.
What is the smallest manned aircraft with four engines? What is the smallest (by operating empty mass ) quad-engine aircraft that satisfies these conditions? Current or past airplane aircraft with fixed wings, not a rotorcraft, not a lighter than air, etc 4 engines, pistons or turbines fuel as a main source for p...	So, I present you the Sikorsky Ilya Muromets , the World's first four engined bomber.
In the rare event that the U.S. DOD shuts off the GPS, what's the alternative? In the U.S., the Department of Defense along with other Federal Agencies of the Government operates & maintains the GPS . In the rarest of the events, if for any reason whatsoever, the Government decides to shut off GPS provisioning (even ...	Inertial Navigation Systems - current generations of solid state INS gear are highly accurate but accuracy begins to degrade with prolonged use, requiring accurate position updates from time to time. Currently IFR capable aircraft are required to retain VHF navigation radios for use with terrestrial navigation beacons....

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