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How to make ourselves more visible to other aircraft? What are the best practices in air to help others see our aircraft? <Q> Transponders, ADS-B (which, honestly, is pretty much just an outgrowth of transponders) and exterior lights have already been mentioned. <S> I'd like to add one more thing: speak up! <S> You'...	For day operations, a minimum of an operational anti-collision light system must be used, but in general it is difficult to beacons or strobes in daylight prior to spotting the aircraft as a whole.
Has there ever been an uncommanded lowering of landing gear? Has there ever been an uncommanded lowering of the landing gear on a large commercial jet? I could not find any instance of it in a preliminary google search. Could a simple short-circuit cause such a thing? I think this would actually be pretty bad at cruis...	Typically it takes two points of failure for it to happen on a jetliner: the gear uplock to fail, and the door uplock to fail.
What is this transport aircraft, and why does it sometimes cary an air data boom when the Soviet Buran Space Shuttle is on top of it? This comment in chat points to a "google search of the day" which was for Buran the Soviet version of the Space Shuttle . Looking there I saw images of a large transport aircraft wi...	Supersonic aircraft must use the boom method because the air flow behind the aircraft has been affected by the shockwaves created by the nose and other aircraft features. It is indeed an An-225 (the first and only one built).
What should I look for when choosing a kneeboard? There's a lot of variety in kneeboards. Some pilots fly with an improvised one: just a small clipboard with some scrap paper on, with a strap glued to the back. At the other extreme, fancy ones come with pen loops, pockets, and maybe even a fold-out area big enough to r...	There are lots of options out there for iPad knee boards and with the scratch pad ability in most flying apps you can replace paper all together in the cockpit. People sell a lot of fancy kneeboards for use in cockpits and you'll quickly find that 90% of the features aren't going to be very helpful to you as a pilot. I...
Why are turboprop intakes placed below the propeller? On many turboprop aircraft, such as the A400M and the ATR 72, it seems that the air intake tends to be placed below the propeller (images: Wikipedia): source source Given that mounting the intake in a higher location helps reduce the risk of foreign object dama...	It is easier to discharge ingested ice and debris downward, rather than some other direction, so that is where they go if possible. That offset is used to place the propellor nearer the centreline of the wing to optimise airflow.
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...	The image you are seeing was almost certainly made by an aerial photography plane passing overhead of another plane landing.
What is this abandoned airport between Montague and Rothbury, Michigan? It appears to have had two intersecting paved runways, each very roughly 2000 feet long (give or take); the one that runs closer to north-south is still legibly numbered as runway 17/35, but the other runway is in much worse condition (suggesting t...	It looks to be Ottiger Airport 2MI6
What does it mean when ATC says "altitude indicates"? I've noticed that ATC sometimes calls out traffic (a traffic advisory?) to aircraft using the "altitude indicates" phraseology, and sometimes a specific altitude is given without the phrase "altitude indicates". Is there a specific reason for when they use one over...	"Altitude indicates" means it is a random target and the controller is going by the only information available,
In a pusher configuration with turboprop(s), how is the superhot exhaust avoided? I actually looked around for turboprops in a pusher configuration, and so far I only found one: P180 Avanti . You can see the propellers are behind the turbine, and in fact it looks like two exhaust ports lead right into the propellers. ...	I suppose one could route an exhaust stack from the engine installation to a location away from the engine or propellers.
How common is it for military jets to use civilian airports? Today my wife witnessed 3 fighter jets taking off from Teterboro Airport in NJ. She even took a video. How common is it for military jets to use civilian airports? <Q> What your wife may have seen may have been related to the VIP TFR's that usually pop up i...	Fighter jets may fly into local fields for airshows, to re-fuel or for needed maintenance in route etc.
What is the effect of fuselage weight on a model glider? I've built a model glider and wanted to see the effect the weight of the fuselage had on its performance. It flew the further with more weight which seems counter intuitive. I can exert more force into the glider with more weight which results in greater airspeed...	Since it is the lift over drag (L/D) ratio that determines the gliding range, weight will not affect it.
Were my airplane's wheels under-inflated? I recently took a flight on a (Lufthansa) Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. As I was about to embark, my eyes caught this image: And the aircraft wasn't even loaded with the passengers yet. If I saw this in a car, I would assume a flat tire or other loss of air pressure...were thes...	Neither car nor aircraft tires are supposed to be inflated to the point where only a small percentage of the tire is in contact with the ground.
Is it possible for ATC to see who’s transmitting on the radio on their radar? I don’t think ATC currently has the capability of seeing who’s actually transmitting on the frequency. If technology permits (probably by making a connection between the radios and the transponder), would it be helpful for controllers to be ...	In densely occupied airspace, the Radio Direction Finder assists the controllers in rapidly identifying which aircraft is transmitting on the frequency.
Do any gliders carry GPWS? Do any gliders come with a ground proximity warning system (GPWS)? I realise that, for a glider, a GPWS probably wouldn't be able to help quite as much as in a powered aircraft, since a glider, by definition, doesn't have any engines which it can apply TOGA power on (unless, of course, it's ...	Many glider pilots have a GPS flight computer that usually has terrain loaded in its database and can alert a glider pilot of terrain.
How do aerobatic aircraft land? The aerobatic aircraft I've seen don't have any flaps or air-brakes, besides they're taildraggers so I guess they usually have to do stall landing or three point landing but I don't understand how the pilot controls the approach speed or just how they slow down. <Q> The same as any other...	I'd imagine almost any civil aircraft can be landed quite safely without flaps - it certainly forms part of the standard training syllabus for the PPL and you'd likely be expected to demonstrate a flapless landing on your skills test.
What are the disadvantages of having vortex generators? I know the advantages of vortex generators (VGs): lower stall speed, lower landing and takeoff speed according to www.stolspeed.com. So what are the major reasons most GA planes and low speed ultralights don't have VGs on their wings? <Q> Cost. <S> A set of Mic...	The most important reason by far is that if you design your wing (or other surface) correctly they aren't needed.
What is the aerodynamic motivation behind vortex generators? An airplane's wing creates lift efficiently when the airflow is parallel to the chord of the wing. Vortex generators twist the airstream on the wing surface. Doesn't this kind of twisted airflow cause lift inefficiency? <Q> You are correct that vortex genera...	Given a designed wing the stall angle can be reduced and also the maximum lift can be increased. The actual motivation to use VGs is the overall most efficient solution.
Is wing sweep needed on supersonic aircraft? Area rule states that bodies with the same crossectional area distribution have the same drag. Does that mean I could use a straight wing on mach 1.2 aircraft with performance as high as sweep winged plane as long as they have the same area distribution? <Q> Just witness the...	Sweep is not strictly required, but helpful to increase supersonic L/D .
stall with max power I saw a video of a test flight of a GA plane and it stalled with max power and with a moderate AOA (angle of attack). How can a plane stall with max power (with the wings flying below the critical angle of attack)? <Q> Airplanes stalling only below a specified airspeed is a common misconception l...	A plane (airfoil) can stall at any airspeed and/or power setting so long as the critical angle of attack is exceeded.
Why is it necessary for pilots to have trim controls on fly-by-wire aircraft? On Airbus family airliners why is it necessary for the pilots to have the facility to trim when there is no aerodynamic feedback through the flight controls? <Q> Airbus FBW aircraft have an Autotrim system, so the trim wheel is only there as ...	It's because on FBW aircraft the software is designed to mimic the behaviour of a mechanical system so that the instinctive pilot inputs will have a similar result.
Are there regulations for water skiing in a ASEL aircraft? What are the regulations regarding water skiing with ASEL aircraft, as in touching your tires down in a particular body of water such as a lake or river? Sometimes referred to hydroplaning. <Q> ( bush-air.com ) <S> But the closest thing to an official mention...	I couldn't find any regulations for it. No "hydroplaning" with tires or "skimming" with skis is not illegal.
What exactly are "clipped" wings? What exactly does "clipped wing" mean? Been having a rather heated debate. My understanding is that clipped means the tips were removed after manufacture. The other party claims that if it was designed squared off and built that way, it is called clipped. <Q> As far as I can find you m...	It appears that whether is was done 'aftermarket' or manufactured that way, clipped wings are those that have been shortened from original design to improve aerobatic capabilities.
Why was a Lockheed L-1011 chosen by Orbital ATK for its Pegasus launches? Not sure whether this fits better here in Aviation, or would be better suited for Space, but since the question is about a terrestrial aircraft, I'll start it out here. The topic of my question is why was the Lockheed L-1011 chosen by Orbita...	One reason the L-1011 was chosen was that the keel beams on the L-1011 are spaced such that they could create an opening inside the aircraft for the verticle tailfin of the Pegasus when mated to the bottom of the aircraft and do so without jeopardizing the structural integrity of the airframe. So the reason would have ...
What to look for when purchasing a headset I'm currently a student pilot, and I'm starting at an aviation university this fall to major in commercial aviation. Needless to say, I will be flying a lot. I'm looking to upgrade to a nice headset from the pretty basic one I have now, and I'm looking for a bit of guidance. I...	With regards to active noise reduction in a headset, it makes a huge difference. Do your best to test them out before you buy. Panel Powered plugs - Here are various types but the most applicable to your case would be lemo - most newer aircraft have these plugs and allow you to use your ANR headset without batteries. T...
When flying VFR without GPS, how do pilots know if they are inside controlled airspace or not? How do VFR pilots know whether or not they are inside controlled airspace if they don't have GPS onboard? <Q> VFR aviation maps called "sectionals" (and now GPS map displays) depict the types of airspace through borders wi...	Generally: By Using a (Physical) Map Aviation charts have landmarks and airspaces on them, which you can use to estimate where you're at.
Can ATC provide VFR flight following to a VFR aircraft in class E airspace? Just wondering if ATC can do this or not. I'd also appreciate input on whether it's useful or a good idea, and how it looks in the real world. <Q> They can. <S> I often pick it up here in the Northeast since the airspace is fairly busy. <S> Gen...	Generally speaking I was taught that flight following is always a good idea. It is a useful tool to you in the cockpit and can provide advisories of fast moving hard to see aircraft as well as those that may be approaching to overtake you.
What does the "T" on sectional charts mean in reference to airspace altitude? These are present in the San Francisco class bravo / Oakland class charlie and O'Hare class bravo / Midway class charlie. <Q> T is used to signify that the top of Class C airspace that lies under Class B is the bottom surface of that airspa...	Since the Class C airspace is sandwiched between the surface and the shelves of the nearby Class B airspace, the T indicates that the upper limit of the ClassC surface area is on the bottom of the overhead Class B shelf.
Are there any passenger aircraft with no cabin access to/from the cockpit? Most passenger aircraft (airliners and business aircraft) have an internal door or doorway connecting the cockpit area to the main cabin; are there passenger aircraft where there is a solid partition isolating the cockpit from the passenger cabi...	All modern passenger aircraft are designed in such a way that the front door or doors (if one on each side) are located right BEHIND the cockpit.
Could an aircraft be tied down, then throttle up and release for takeoff in order to use a shorter runway? Could airplanes, in theory, be designed to takeoff by first tying the tail to a post, throttling the motors to full power, and then letting loose? Could it even take off while tied, if the cable is attached to a...	As already mentioned, aircraft cannot take off without moving through the air, because it is the airflow around the wing that generates the lift required for take-off, and the only practical way of generating sufficient airflow around the wing is to move the wing through the air.
What are the disadvantages of using just rudder to roll an airplane? Ultralights with slight dihedral will roll and yaw on rudder input (e.g the Bloop 3 , Maxair Hummer ) so some don't have ailerons for the sake of simplicity. Is this kind of control input advisable, or are there disadvantages? <Q> It works in a half...	It may also be an attempt to not over stress the structure or prevent a stall in a high G turn.
How can larger wingspan decrease the strength of wingtip vortices? In the last paragraph from the link below, it states that Vortex Strength is inversely proportional to Wingspan. Why is this? http://avstop.com/ac/flighttrainghandbook/wingtipvortices.html EDIT: From https://howthingsfly.si.edu/aerodynamics/vortex-dr...	It's because the "leakage zone", where air is flowing around the tip, is smaller relative to the total wing area if you add more span without increasing chord.
Is VOR identification automated in modern avionics? Is the VOR identification via audible Morse code automated in modern autopilots / avionics? Or does a pilot in an A380 still sits in there, listens and compares the .-. .. -.. to her charts? <Q> Modern air transport and bizjet avionics do decode the audio ID and prov...	As everyone said, modern avionics is capable to decode the audio code of the station, even on small GA airplanes.
How are leaks in door rubber seals detected? There are few reported incident where the rubber seal on the door was damaged and it took numerous hours to find the cause and then find the location of the damage. I want to know the ways to detect the leaks mostly for the big passenger jets. I am not sure if this can be d...	From an operational standpoint, a leak will get looked at either when there are pressurization irregularities like a crew writing up a "slow to pressurize" snag of some kind, or when there are complaints about noise or drafts from door seals.
If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? If a pilot uses his ejector seat during flight, what is the autopilot programmed to do? As a developer myself, I would want to build in a way for the plane to try and save itself if possible (to save money) by auto-landing, or at the very least, calculate the ...	Since the autopilot can't land even an intact plane on its own, there's nothing it could do to save the plane.
Why do I get a severe headache just before landing? I had severe painful headaches two times in my entire lifetime and both times I was in flight. I see some common factors in this two occurrences which I thought could be some known pattern so I would like to know if we can take precautions to avoid a headache. The f...	Your sinus passages were obstructed and it was atmospheric pressure squeezing your skull as the increasing pressure on the descent tried to equalize the pressure.
What are the drawbacks for manufacturing a large airliner capable of water landing? Emergencies are rare but still occur. Apart from weight and extra fuel costs, What are the drawbacks for manufacturing a large airliner capable of water landing in case of an emergency? Assuming the extra weight problem could be mitiga...	If you are talking about seaplanes, or designing an amphibious airliner, this biggest drawback would be excess drag from such a configuration, a less than optimal aircraft configuration to accommodate seaplane characteristics, adding to weight, increased costs due to maintenance, passenger discomfort from landing on ro...
Can I get a medical after having had a seizure eight years ago? In 2010 I had a seizure (as of this writing that would be 8 years ago.) I was a CFI/Commercial Multi pilot, and the FAA took away my medical. I have never piloted since, though I've missed it tremendously. At the time I was told that I could not obtain ...	§67.401 Special issuance of medical certificates allows the FAA to issue medical certificates to airmen who can demonstrate "a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA)" which is at the discretion of the flight surgeon.
What is this F-18 Hornet "air intake" for? I think I read once that they served to cool the on-board computer systems, but I'm not sure. <Q> It's for keeping the boundary layer flow from entering the intake, it's called a splitter plate . <S> I think it's done to prevent turbulence inside the turbine (prevent compress...	So it seems to be a simple intake for bleed air which has the additional effect of slowing the air entering into the main intake. Basically a air to air radiator for the Bleed air system used for most functions on the F/A-18.
What is this INOP instrument and when is it safe to fly with INOP instruments? I flew ZRH->LHR on BA0711 today on G-EUOG. I noticed through the cabin door one of the instruments had a yellow INOP sticker across it (see photo). Which instrument was it? I am presuming the instrument has a backup, and the backup was opera...	It is a navigation instrument which combines a compass, VOR needles and ADF needles.
Is this photo showing dozens of airliners in close proximity real, or even plausible? CNN has an article about Heathrow that's accompanied by the following photo: Is this photo depicting an actual event? If not, would it even be possible/plausible to fly this many airliners this closely together or would wake turb...	It’s a composite shot of multiple departures from an airport. It is a Photoshop image and not done too skillfully at that, may be on purpose.
What time zone is used for operating an airplane? This might be a silly question but my thinking was the following: There has to be a definition of time in an airplane for the logging of data and so on, but what definition would that be assuming a flight goes across timezones? Would it be the local time at the airp...	The planes use UTC time.
What drives the shape of an engine's intake on a fighter jet? Rectangular intakes have more corners which might increase subsonic pressure losses and would weigh larger than a pitot (Semi-circular) type intake. Are the designer drivers solely based on supersonic pressure loss improvement? Or for area-ruling? Am I missi...	From what I could find, the rectangular geometry of fighter aircraft intakes is due to the fact that the intakes incorporate sharper inlet lips in order to decelerate airflow to subsonic speeds to avoid supersonic performance losses from shock waves.
Why, until recently, were smooth nose sections not popular? Why, until recently, were smooth nose sections not popular? By smooth I mean without a break between the nose and windshield. (The question focuses on airliners.) Seeing the Starliner (left) and DC-7 (middle), which were vying for the transatlantic mark...	Aircraft windshields usually need to be serviced more often than other parts of the nose, because any debris (hail, birds etc) might cause scratch marks or fractures that obstruct the view and might cause a decompression. ' Additional cost factors (contributing to the high cost of deeply or compound curved windshields)...
What is a biplane propeller and how efficient is it? Lazair ultralight series II used biplane props to absorb more power from the engine....so my question is what really is a biplane propeller and are they efficient in comparison to a four bladed prop? <Q> It is essentially two propellers stack on top of each other. ...	Depending on the pitch and blade airfoil, a biplane propeller as used on the Lazair might be more or less efficient than a conventional four-blade propeller the same diameter.
Can you disengage A320 autopilot with stick pressure? I was recently reading that in most military jets, auto-pilot can disengaged without hitting the button, by applying 5lbs of pressure to sticks. Does this work in commercial airliners such as the A320? <Q> Yes. <S> I’m not sure of the amount of force, but from the ...	From what I could gather, airliners such as the Airbus A320 have a red button on the sidestick that will disengage the autopilot should you press it.
Is a 61.31 solo endorsement a one-time thing, or does it need to be repeated? The FAR 61.31(d)(2) reads that a person can act as pilot in command if they: Have received training required by this part that is appropriate to the pilot certification level, aircraft category, class, and type rating (if a class or type ...	The short answer is that a 61.31 solo endorsement expires only if the instructor added an expiration date as a limitation.
Do floatplanes land on rivers? I'm sitting here in a coffee shop on the local river and I noticed it was just wide enough to facilitate a landing. There is no chop on the river, but it does move pretty switfly, and there are bridges and whatnot that would quickly come into play. However, there are some pretty slow-movi...	In Alaska and Canada the primary use is fishing, hunting, sightseeing, lodging, supplies...
Why do we not see propellers on swept wings or jet engines on straight wings? Why are these configurations not observed often? The only time I see propellers are on straight wings or on the nose, while jet engines are always on swept wings or the tail. Why? <Q> You can find propellers on swept wing aircraft, such as ...	Propeller tips become supersonic way below the speed that wings start to become transonic, limiting the forward speed the propeller can operate at, so you simply can't go fast enough with a propeller to enjoy a significant benefit from wing sweep.
How the fuel in the wings is managed in case of an engine failure? Consider an aircraft has fuel tanks only in wings (No central tank). Will the fuel for the respective engines will be consumed from the respective wings? In case of a single engine failure, if the fuel is keep on consumed by the active engine, wherea...	In the event of an engine failure, the pilot can select the ability to cross feed the good engine on the fuel system for the bad engine in order to prevent a fuel imbalance.
Why is extreme cold weather a challenge at airports, since jets operate at extreme cold conditions in flight? Wondering what specifically the issues are. Obviously, taking off and landing have more 'moving parts' but more curious about the actual extreme cold. I assume the operating temperatures at cruise are much lo...	The extreme cold is not an issue so much as the weather that typically accompanies it and the fact that planes are not always designed to be started in extreme cold with out some assistance even if they can run in it. When the temperature drops the oil thickens and it becomes hard to start the engine as well as running...
Why would a flight from Frankfurt to Madrid fly over London? While enjoying the sunshine at the bank of the river Main in Frankfurt (Germany) this evening, I saw a LATAM B787-9 depart over the city center towards the north. This was slightly surprising, as the only LATAM flight from Frankfurt is LAN705 to Madrid (Spai...	In addition to the other reasons, it might simply be a matter of avoiding ATC charges.
How did this F/A-18's execute a "low-boom maneuver"? The Engadget article NASA will publicly test quiet supersonic technology in November says: The administration plans to conduct a series of public tests around the coastal city of Galveston in November. The F/A-18 Hornet aircraft at the heart of the tests will per...	I think that turning the plane around on it's way to the ground achieves the rear fins of the plane distorting the soundwaves on their way to the ground (in contrast to a flat belly of the usual plane, which reflects "hard" N-Waves (
Did WW2-era aircraft have constant-speed or variable-pitch props? This is slightly related to my other question on variable-pitch controls. I want to know if WW2-era aircraft typically had variable-pitch or constant-speed propellers. Variable-pitch lets the pilot adjust the propeller blade pitch. "Constant speed...	There were very few aircraft where the pilot only had a simple control to just vary the pitch of the propeller.
Has an airplane ever been launched from a submarine? Airplanes are routinely launched from ocean going vessels , namely carriers. Missiles are routinely launched from submarines . Has an airplane ever been launched from a submarine? From questions about what qualifies: Manned or unmanned is ok, but payload ma...	Also consider the Japanese I-400 class submarine, that carried three Aichi M6A Serian bombers.
How much water does a passenger airliner carry? How is the amount of water for (a) toilet and (b) drinking to be carried by a flight calculated in the industry? Is there any formula or thumb rule using which we can roughly estimate the amount of water required for toilet and for drinking calculated if the aircraft type...	The B747 has three 110 gallon filament-wound fiberglass tanks attached to the forward side of the center section front spar (rear bulkhead of the forward baggage compartment). When it comes to water (and pretty much everything else that's not mandated) they look at historical use by route, season, load factors, and ser...
How much water is produced in jet exhaust? If a jet has typical combustion efficiency, what equivilent amount of liquid water will be created per gallon of jet or kerosene fuel. An acceptable answer can be a ratio in weight or volume to the original unburned fuel. For example an answer might be 1 part in 50 by volume o...	For kerosene, it is about 1.23 kg water per kg of fuel.
Distance of downwind leg from runway in glider landing pattern? Is there guidance from the FAA or AGA on the distance of the runway from the downwind leg of a landing pattern for a glider? For powered aircraft, the FAA recommends in its flying handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B) that the downwind leg be flown from 2500 to 5000 f...	From the diameter of your safe 1/2 circle glide (and altitude loss),you determine your safe minimum distance from runway on downwind.
Is there a difference between a chart and map? Does the use or meaning of "chart" or "map" vary worldwide? Is there a difference between a chart and map? <Q> Colloquially, I would say not really, by definition <S> yes. <S> I think the simplest way to put is is: <S> All charts are maps but not all maps are charts....	In general, the result of any "Mapping" is a "Map" but only those maps that relate geographic or spatial (2D or 3D) points in space to a visual representation of those points are "charts".
Does bypass air produce thrust? How does bypass air exiting the bypass nozzle produce thrust in a turbofan engine? I thought that thrust was produced by air reacting with the fans. So if thrust happens when there is an action-reaction pair with the air and fan blades, is there additional thrust provided when the mass ...	It does indeed generate thrust which, as in the general case of a propeller, is transmitted to the engine case via a thrust bearing that supports the fan disc and thence to the airframe via the engine mounts.
Why do most biplanes have their top wing slightly forward of the lower wing? In most of the biplanes, the top wing is located a little forward of the lower wing. What is the use of this? Also, how does this affect stability of the aircraft. <Q> Placing the top wing ahead of the bottom wing in biplanes is called (positi...	A wing with positive (forward) stagger is most common because it improves both downward visibility and ease of cockpit access for open cockpit biplanes.
Could modern military aircraft be retrofitted to work with alternative fuels instead of kerosene? I am geologist and I have heard in 50 years petroleum will be nearly gone. I know for commercial planes there are working projects with clean energy.I can be wrong, but I think military systems would fail with no kerosene ...	Yes, planes could be altered to use other fuels such as biodiesel. Aviation is weight-critical and an energy-dense fuel matters; it's also a smaller consumer than road vehicles.
Are there any mandatory announcements that a captain has to make? Are there any announcements that a captain of an aircraft must make that is reinforced by law or a rule? (This is concerning all countries ) <Q> The US does have specific regulations that require the pilot to ensure that passengers are briefed on cert...	Only if there is an emergency condition and the captain must tell the flight attendants and passengers to “Brace!”
Why Airbus A220 if A320 already exists? Airbus just presented its new A220 aircraft, formerly the "old" Bombardier CSeries , that is re-branded after a 50.01% acquistion of Bombardier by Airbus. It's an aircraft very similar in target and characteristics to its own A320neo Family , so my question is simple... why?...	You can see that the A220 is significantly smaller and lighter than the A320 and A321, more similar to the now discontinued A318 (and maybe A319).
Is it true that a soda can or a bag of chips will pop in a plane at high altitude? I've heard some conspiracy theorists claim that if you were to bring a soda can or a bad of chips onto an airplane, they would pop? Is this true? If so, why? <Q> Not likely. <S> Consider how food products normally make it to you. ...	You can make a soda can burst by heating it up, but that'll require quite a bit of heat. I brought a bag of chips on a Quantas A380 flight recently and it ruptured during ascent.
How to correct a roll due to turbulence? I fly a Piper Cherokee 180 (PA-28-180) in an area that has frequent turbulence. When turbulence causes the aircraft to roll to one side I usually try to correct by using aileron and rudder in the opposite direction of the roll. However my flight instructor says that I should us...	Apply only the rudder required to keep the ball centered with the application of whatever aileron is necessary.
What twinjet with rear-mounted engines and swept wings did I see in Savannah, GA? I saw this flying in Savannah, GA and need help identifying it. It looks like something military due to the color and lack of markings. Can anyone help? <Q> Gulfstream G500. <S> The G600 is longer. <S> The angle is close, but look at the ...	That's a Gulfstream G500 or G600 (someone who knows the differences better can tell us which), probably a new one arriving to Hilton Head International for finishing at the Gulfstream service center there.
How do hot air balloons navigate? Hot air balloons are quite obviously carried along with the wind, so how can they be navigated? Choosing the correct launch point relative to the desired landing point would seem to play a major part of this, but logic states that it is not always possible to choose the best possible ...	Balloonists use spit and little balloons to track the variations of wind direction with altitude.
What is the true top speed of the SR-71? By "true" top speed I mean the absolute fastest horizontal airspeed the aircraft can achieve if damage to the engines is disregarded (similar to how the MiG-25 apparently can reach mach 3.2 but may damage its engines beyond repair). Catastrophic structural failure (of anything b...	Speeds of up to Mach 3.3 could be authorised by the commander as long as the maximum CIT (compressor inlet temperature) of 427 degrees C was not exceeded. Most Blackbird pilots were pretty coy about a top speed.
What does it mean when your destination airport is currently "below IFR minimums"? Does it mean that absolutely nobody can land there until conditions improve? Can ATC still give you an IFR clearance to your destination airport in this case? <Q> It would be very helpful to know where you read or heard the phrase, to ge...	So yes, ATC can give you a clearance to an airport that is below IFR minimums.
Was ATC overstepping its boundaries when advising a pilot to ignore a cell warning? I found a clip on YouTube (via an article on Jalopnik ) of an Aer Lingus pilot departing from JFK. Due to a weather cell showing up on his instruments, he can not make the left ATC asks him to make. ATC advises him that the weather ...	The controller didn't overstep his boundaries, and he didn't tell the pilot to ignore a weather warning.
Where can I find runway usage statistics of USA airports? Ok I’m looking for stats and data of planes arriving at various airports and what runways they use most. I need to know the most used runways for arrivals in airports here in the States. Can anyone point me in a direction where I can easily find this info? <Q> L...	FlightAware.com can compile runway usage information, based on flight track positions near the airport.
What plane is this? This aircraft was parked at the very back of the McCarran airport, and I was absolutely fascinated by it. It has a propeller on the back of the fuselage as well, though not very well shown in the picture. What is its name or model? <Q> Googling the plane's registration number (this one is N6361F )...	Cessna 337 Skymaster and/or the O-2.
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 ...	Qantas Flight 32 Enroute to Sydney, Engine Number 2 of the A380 disintegrated explosively.
Why would a flight from North America to Asia sometimes fly over the Atlantic? I am going to take AC031 from Toronto to Beijing in a couple of weeks, I searched its flight path, most of the time it will fly westbound after taking off from Toronto and continue west across the north pole area and land in Beijing, but yes...	Sometimes, routes need to deviate a bit from the "direct" route, due to prevailing winds or other traffic.
Are all tires on an aircraft replaced at the same time? On cars, it is often to replace all four tires at the same time. Is this true also for aircraft? I imagine the nose gear and main gear probably can be replaced at different intervals. However, are tires within the same gear assembly replaced together? What about ...	Airline tires are replaced on-condition and are generally recapped until the tire carcass condition deteriorates or is damaged to the point recapping is no longer viable.
Why does the ICAO alphabet use "Charlie" for C? Why does the ICAO alphabet use "Charlie" for C? Specifically, why choose "Charlie", which has a "Ch" sound, rather than a word with the hard "C" such as "Carl"? A cursory Googling turns up nothing. <Q> Hard C sounds too much like K. Ch (Charlie) will not be confused wit...	English language doesn't have a distinct sound for singular letter "C".
Why do budget airlines not use the jetbridge that's right there? Related to Who decides whether an airline docks at a jetbridge or parks at a remote stand? , but I'm not asking about remote stands. I recently took an easyJet flight (A319/320) from London Gatwick (LGW) to Malaga (AGP), and once through the gate, we ...	Many low-costs operators are sporting 30 or 25 mins turn-arrounds, so losing 5 or 10 extra minutes during boarding (and then having to pay extra for the priviledge) is not something budget airlines are keen on.
Has any passenger airliner ever offered forward-facing windows? The empty, dolphin-like, forehead of the A380 seems like it would be an amazing place for the first and/or business class bar, especially if it had forward-facing windows. I realize in the A380's case there are crew rest and storage compartments in that s...	The 747 is notable as one of the few, if not the only, modern airliner to offer such a view to passengers through an actual window (as opposed to camera views on the IFE screens.)
Is it OK to greet ATC? My instructor told me that courtesies are forbidden in radio communication, however, we usually start conversation as "Turany Ground, OK-ABC, good morning, (... request)". I find it natural. Is that acceptable violation of the rules, or could it cause some troubles? <Q> It is not part of the st...	They are not “forbidden” but it’s not standard phraseology. There are instances, particularly in high density airspace where it can impeded communications and it’s not appreciated.
Have bi-wings been used without creating more drag? As I understand from answers I've read here 1 , 2 , 3 , biplanes create more lift with less wing span when compared to single wing aircraft, because the combined wings have greater surface area overall. However this is usually at the expense of added drag as both...	The real advantage of a biplane is reduced induced drag because less structure needs to be lifted.
What constrains a paraglider vertically? I recently flew on a tandem paraglider for the first time. Since then I keep asking myself a question I have no clear answers to. While flying I clearly perceived the lift generated by the airfoil, but the strongest feeling I had was as if the paraglider hung to a rail, like...	Only gravity, lift, and drag (and thrust, if powered) are acting on the paraglider, nothing else.
Why not a second airbridge at the back? Airbridges slow boarding and disembarking because (normally) there's only one door in use. But... why? Now the most obvious reason would be that it's very easy to have the aircraft pull forward until its door is roughly in line with the bridge, while it's not possible to do that...	In a lot of cases the rear of the aircraft is used to load on the new food and remove old garbage blocking the rear with exiting and entering passengers could get in the way of the operations during fast turn arounds.
What is the identity of this abandoned, wrecked Sudan Airways airliner? The other day, I was browsing Twitter, when I came across this picture of an airliner posted by a Sudanese local (thought it was a Boeing 737, but a friend of mine pointed out that it was an Airbus A300). I tried Google Image Searching it, but coul...	Sudan Airways has not had an accident with this type of aircraft and as such it must be a retired plane.
How much physical strength is required to control a Cessna 172? I have heard a number of folks tell me that one needs a certain amount of physical strength to be able to control the Cessna 172. Is that true? I'm flying sims now, just wanted to know. <Q> I will take this from a more general perspective. <S> A Cessna 1...	So to answer your question it does not take a lot of strength to fly one. So it is possible to control a c- 172 with no yoke force whatsoever.
Can a zero hour pilot actually launch a Bombardier Q400 with only simulator experience? The thief of the Bombardier Q400 at SEATAC stated that he had a lot of simulator flying (I'm guessing like Flight Simulator for the PC?) Some "experts" stated that he must have had more than that to get the Bombardier off of the g...	Doing it with only sim training is simply dangerous, not impossible. It is possible to learn and study everything in a (home) simulator except for hand-flying.
Are the ICAO phonetic numbers used anywhere? I ran across a table of ICAO (NATO) approved phonetic number pronunciations. As early as I can remember (50+yrs) in the United States "nin-er" is the only one I ever remember hearing in aviation and I don't recall hearing it in the last 30yrs. I recall hearing "Fife" but I d...	People whose native language is English tend to pronounce words [and numbers] as they would in normal speech.
Why do airliners have to park so accurately? I was watching some airport documentary and I noticed that the planes always had to park precisely. I honestly didn't think so much of it before, but in the documentary, an aircraft parked badly because the VDGS couldn't detect it correctly due to fog, so it had to be pushed...	By keeping the plane aligned with the markings, you keep your fellow ramp agents safe while they wait for the aircraft to park and turn the engines off. But the primary reasons are jet bridge limitations and safety. Some jet bridges are poorly engineered, some are old.
What does the extending the flaps do (or any high lift device) to the Rate-Of-Descent of an airplane? I know that deploying flaps will increase both drag and lift, thus increasing L/D ratio. But how exactly does that correlate with the increase/decrease of the rate-of-descent? <Q> According to the FAA , lowering or ext...	However, an aircraft flying at a constant speed will descend faster (higher rate of descent) if the flaps are extended compared to when they are not.
Who controls airspace and time in my area on helicopters? I live in Newport Beach which is located in Orange County, California. I recently moved to an area where helicopters fly once in a while at 2-3 am above my house. Since I live on a hill, the sound is pretty loud and it wakes me up at night. I was wondering whe...	You can use a service like FlightRadar24.com to see whether the flight is civilian or military.
Why are fighter jets equipped with dorsal fin? I don't really get whats the purpose of dorsal fins and what they do with the flow over the vertical stabilizer. I noticed on most single tail configured aircrafts are equipped with a dorsal fin like the f 16. <Q> There are two features that you may be referring to. <S> ...	The true dorsal "fin": increases structural strength decreases drag by providing a fillet for the vertical stabilizer, improves stability about the vertical axis, and specifically in the case of the f16 (when installed) aerodynamically blends the drag chute pack (box at base of Rudder)
What is the maximum rate of descent in an instrument approach? What is the maximum rate of descent approved in an instrument approach procedure non-precision? Basically what is the maximum rate of descent (Fpm) that I use during the approach? <Q> ICAO Doc 8168 stipulates that for a non-CDFA non-precision approach, the ...	Your descent rate will depend on the ground speed during the approach. In the USA the maximum rate would only be that considered safe and in control for the equipment, crew training, and conditions.
How does Air Traffic Control know a flight's route and destination? I am trying to find out in layman's terms how does ATC determine the direction a flight has to take after takeoff, or when should it start descending for the destination airport. I understand it has to do with the flight plan but Googling revealed lot ...	When an aircraft is ready for departure, ATC assigns them a transponder code (squawk) that is linked to their call sign, which is in turn linked to their flight plan.
Is the 737's autopilot part of the FMS or is it a separate entity? I was watching a tutorial about the FMS and the autopilot in the 737, and I am consfused. I come from a Cessna background, where there is no FMS, there is only the AP (autopilot). So, is the AP a separate entity being fed info by the FMS and easily ove...	They are separate systems, but the autopilot can be set to get guidance from the FMC (Flight Management Computer). It's not uncommon to hear or read "FMC" and "FMS" used interchangably, but they are in fact two separate things.
Do high-wingers have dihedral? I know that high wingers have an inherent dihedral effect. Are there any examples of high wing aircrafts with a dihedral?If so, what is the reason behind it? <Q> High wing planes typically have less dihedral than an otherwise comparable low wing design, because of keel effect: they hav...	Dihedral (positive V-shape) provides a positive roll-sideslip stability, required on low wing aeroplanes. If you're building a primary trainer its going to have a lot of dihedral, even if its a high wing.
Can a door be shut while in flight? What is the best way to shut a door that has popped open in flight? I had a door on a Cessna 172 pop open shortly after takeoff and was unable to get it closed, but I was fortunate enough to be able to quickly circle around and land. I tried reaching across with my right hand, but...	The best procedure is to set up the airplane in a trimmed condition at approximately 75 KIAS, momentarily shove the door outward slightly, and forcefully close and lock the door.
USA: Why don't airports raise landing fees to make up for low passenger fees? A question from travel.stackexchange.com about luggage carts prompted a discussion on the economics of airports. The gist was: American airports have much lower passenger service fees which are capped at USD4.50 per FAA rules than foreign...	Airports set the landing fee based on airfield costs.
Are NDBs and VORs dying as a navigational method? I am new to aviation, so bear with me on this question: I have read in multiple places that the VOR/NDB navigational aids are dying out to GPS. Is this true? Are more modern aircraft being built with glass, digital instrument readouts that capitalize on GPS services in...	NDBs FAA has begun decommissioning stand-alone NDBs as users equip withGPS. Yes, it is true.
Why are helicopters less efficient than planes? At higher speeds, advancing helicopter blades will operate at velocities approaching mach 1, reducing efficiency. But what about lower speeds? A helicopter is basically a wingless plane with a giant propeller. Why is it more efficient to move around using propellers to p...	A rotor's size is limited, both because its fast rotation means it needs to be light (and thus can't be very reinforced, etc) and because the larger its radius, the faster the end spins. Look at their respective fuel burn rates.
What is the pivot point of pitch change on an aircraft? I was wondering if there is a way to determine the pivot point when an aircraft changes pitch, assuming a standard slightly nose heavy and back elevator trimmed Cessna 172. Will it pivot around the CG, the Center of lift, or somewhere in between. Logically, I wo...	By the very definition, a free-flying object can only pivot around its CG. It depends on your frame of reference
Bed sheet as wing skin? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_fabric_covering This article states several early aircrafts that successfully used cotton as wing skin including Wright flyer. "Colditz Cock" glider had its wingskin made from bedsheets plus this guys used bedsheets to make their wingskin and the pla...	Fabric coverings need to be strong enough to handle the load to which they are subjected. Latex paint has been used on homebuilt aircraft with success You'd have to use polyester instead of cotton or linen because on those fabrics it's the dope coating that shrinks the fabric to make it taught

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