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How would exhaust heat recovery into the combustion chamber affect the efficiency of a jet engine? So, a jet engine basically sucks in air, heats it up and spits it out, right?The hotter the air gets, the faster the exhaust velocity and thus the more efficient (Higher specific impulse). Now my question is how this all...	Since the thrust is developed in the last section of the nozzle then having a heat exchanger further down would actually reduce the thrust by reducing the ability of the gas to expand.
How do SIDs work in New York City? I've started working to make airport files for an online ATC game, and my first airport is Newark Liberty (DP: https://flightaware.com/resources/airport/KEWR/DP/all/pdf ). What I already understand is that there are various climbs valid for different runways, and that the SID direct...	SIDs are created by the FAA or the individual operators and used by aircraft departing from airports to streamline the flow of traffic departing that location to their transition into the enroute structure ie establishing on low or high altitude airways.
What is the phraseology when leaving a TRSA? When leaving TRSA what is the correct phraseology to tell ATC that radar service is no longer desired? <Q> You can say "cancel radar service" (probably the most standard under ICAO), "cancel flight following," "request frequency change," or anything else that conveys the s...	If you are already participating in radar services like flight following as VFR, you can ”cancel” ”terminate” or ”discontinue” the service in plain English.
How does latitude affect the air temperature at 8 km altitude where planes fly? Is the air temperature (at 8km) above the North or South poles colder than the same altitude above the equator? Why? Ground level air temperature difference between coldest and warmest places on Earth can be >70C. As you get higher, the t...	But surprisingly, air at altitude at the poles can be warmer than air at altitude at the equator.
Can a wing generate lift in excess of its aircraft's weight? "For a plane or bird to fly, its wings must produce enough lift to equal its weight. " I got that excerpt from " https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/300-wings-and-lift ". My questions:(1) Can an aircraft wing create lift that is greater than the weigh...	Yes, a wing can (given sufficient forward speed and angle of attack) generate lift greater than the weight of the aircraft.
Are jet engines designed in a way to make an explosion result in the least damage possible? I know most engines are super reliable today, but do manufacturers do anything to at least make an explosion result in the least damage possible? <Q> The most (kinetic) energy is in the fan and turbine blades and disc. <S> The e...	Shielding may be required to prevent debris from one engine from crossing over and damaging critical parts of the other engine.
Why are primary and supportive instruments in instrument flying different depending on the phase of flight? For example, in straight-and-level flight, the power's primary instrument is the Air Speed Indicator (ASI), and the supportive are the engine instruments. In another example, straight constant-airspeed climb, th...	Because during certain maneuvers, certain instruments provide more relevant information to a pilot than do others.
Do turbofan engine cowlings dilate during spool-up? I was watching this Youtube video , portraying a Fokker 70 taking off. I wouldn't have noticed if it weren't for a comment, but during spool up (~ 3:24 in the video), it appears as if the engine cowling is dilating. (See image below, if you don't want to watch the ...	One possibility is that as the engine spools up, it's creating a low pressure region around the entire front cowling, causing the fuselage to bulge out slightly. I think it's a camera distortion caused by vibrations: an effect you can see when some harmonics are prox to shutter frequency and can cause image distortion....
What should I do if I lose situational awareness while in the pattern? Let's say that I'm doing some pattern work in my favorite little Cessna or Diamond at my favorite little non-towered airport. Everything is going just fine, I'm on the downwind leg... Or, wait a minute, am I on the crosswind leg? Which runway are w...	If you are confused somehow about your situation over an airport, and there are other aircraft around, head for empty sky away from the airport beyond the pattern/circuit and get reoriented. Don't expect too much at your level. Announce your intentions, don't worry about specific phraseology, for example: " NXYZ is lea...
Has anyone burned hydrogen in a turbine? I am just wondering if supplying compressed hydrogen to a turbine would be a better fuel as it has three times the octane rating of kerosene. It just seems better all around. <Q> Yes, indeed the plan to build a hydrogen-powered jet laid the groundwork for using hydrogen in t...	NACA (the predecessor to NASA), has burned hydrogen in a turbojet engine in flight.
Aerodynamics of Flight Control Surfaces From what it appears to me, flight control surfaces seem to be taken for granted. In terms of how they actually work and what kind of physical outputs they give in terms of forces and such. Take for example the elevators of a Boeing 777, if the pilot wanted to pitch up, the elev...	In your example, a trailing-edge up deflection decreases camber, the surface produces less or negative lift which produces a moment around the center of gravity.
What are the limits of ground effect over water on an airliner plane at cruising speeds? What height over a fixed plain (such as water) can a plane begin to take advantage of the ground effect or when air is compressed between the wing and ground near cruizing speed? Could an airliner type plane fly above the water for...	As noted in the answer linked in comments , the practical limit for ground effect is about half the wingspan over a relatively flat, impermeable surface (you'll get better effect from smooth water than from heavy swell, for instance).
How do pilots avoid clouds under night VFR? When flying under visual flight rules (VFR), pilots have to be able to see far enough away to be able to avoid running into other aircraft or the ground. Therefore, VFR flight requires good visibility with a high (or no) cloud ceiling; this is known as visual meteorological...	At night distant clouds can be difficult to see, but you can use ground lighting to gauge where the coverage is.
How was the endurance test in the Cessna 172 legal? The flight in the Cessna 172 lasted around 64 days with two pilots switching to fly the plane. To my knowledge both FAA and EASA have rest periods which pilots have to follow. Also the refueling was done by a truck matching the speed and handing over a hose to refuel....	Regarding flight time, duty periods, or rest requirements, no current regulations would have specifically imposed limitations on this flight.
Are there any single-pilot aircraft certified in the Part 23 Commuter category? Is it possible to certify an aircraft under FAR 23 Commuter Category with single pilot ops only? Like, there is just one seat in the cockpit and up to 19 passengers.Does anyone know of such an aircraft flying? <Q> It looks like it's possibl...	The Phenom 300 is certified under Part 23 and you can be typed as single pilot in it. The Twin Otter DHC-6-300HG™ type rating designation is DHC-6HG and may be operated with or without a second in command (SIC) with certain limitations.
Why does a turbine helicopter need to spin a tail rotor? Should not the exhaust of the turbine supply enough byproduct to deflect and maintain yaw with a simple deflector (i.e. rudder/stabs)? <Q> Well, that’s complex. <S> Where should I begin? <S> The main job of the tail rotor is to use its long lever arm and direc...	The exhaust gas of a Turboshaft engine does not produce a large amount of thrust for the very large amount of torque the rotor-powertrain combination produces.
Why do helicopters have skids? Why can't they just land on the helicopter's floor? If it's for stability, they could still use skids which are shorter than what is commonly used. <Q> Image source Larger helicopters have landing wheels, and as we can see on the picture above, they are placed as far outward as practical...	The siding of the skids is based on a lot of things from the ability to provide solid, stable support on uneven terrain to prevent the onset of potentially deadly ground resonance during a harder than normal landing to offering good ground clearance. Easy to replace if damaged.
Are helicopter pilots required to use GPS navigation? Some helicopter crashes are caused by a disoriented pilot. This would presumably be impossible with a GPS with terrain maps. Are pilots required to use a GPS when flying a helicopter in the US? <Q> There are some approaches to landing that require GPS (called RNAV) ...	No, pilots are not required to use GPS maps or moving GPS while flying helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. It depends on the circumstances.
Can PC joystick simulate aerodynamic lock in spin? I never explored joysticks for playing simulators on PC. Can some kind of joystick simulate aerodynamic lock during spin? You do hands off control stick and it stays there, won’t center as usual. I understand that force feedback is often included in such products, but ...	For example Flight Simulator 2004 did have force feedback modeled into it, but I don't recall it being very sophisticated. Yes there are PC joysticks that can remain in an off center position: the active feedback joysticks, without the force feedback switched on. Such effects can only be produced by so called 'force fe...
What is the purpose of using 8.33 kHz instead of 25 kHz frequency spacing? What is the purpose of using 8.33 kHz instead of 25 kHz frequency spacing? <Q> The purpose is to accomondate more dedicated frequencies within the airband VHF range (117.975 to 137 MHz). <S> Increasing number of stations made this necessary, i...	If you are referring to 25 kHz spacing versus 8.33 kHz spacing, it gives more channel options in radio transceivers.
How often do GA pilots use the Autopilot approach feature while landing? While flying in simulations, I found that using the Approach feature is very beneficial for riding the glide slope (clear weather or not), however, while watching videos of GA pilots, I do not see it performed too often. Which brings me to my ques...	As long as you are able to take over from any system, the AP for instance, at any time, no-one should (probably will though) frown upon using it. Pilots with autopilots installed are probably going to be much more likely to use them and be more comfortable flying approaches this way.
Why Didn't the USSR Build An X-15? In the history of aerospace engineering in the United States, the X-15 is lauded as a critical and necessary step on the path to manned spaceflight. Throttle-able chemical rocket propulsion systems, reaction controls, and pressurized flight suits were all major design features of the ...	Great question, but no, the X-15 was not a "critical and necessary step on the path to manned space flight" at all, it was used to test the feasibility of sustained and controlled hypersonic flight of an aircraft at very high altitudes and speeds. The rockets used in the space program were completely different from the...
Why would 2 aircraft fitted with the P&W PT6 Engine have different top speed? Why can the Quest Kodiac and Cessna Caravan not exceed 200 knots? PT6 from Pratt and Whitney in other implementations like Epic E1000 and Pilatus PC12 can cruise at over 300 knots. The Kodiac and Caravan are advertised at only ~180 knots. ...	Fixed gear and struts also add to an increase in drag and a reduction in speed. The bottom line is they are different aircraft, with different engines, designed for different roles.
How does the DA 40 NG automatically control the mixture, pitch and power by just providing one throttle? I'm a student pilot and here at my school we have the older gen DA40s which have individual lever for mixture, pitch and power. I was looking at this video of the DA40 NG, and got quite curious as to how everythin...	It is controlled by a computer module just like your modern fuel injected car.
Does the tailplane have a positive/negative camber? I've read that the tailplane produces negative lift, so does that mean it would function like an inverted wing (has negative camber)? The image below is the best illustration I could come up with. Also, is negative lift and tail down force the same thing? <Q> The ta...	Indeed, the airfoils on many horizontal tail surfaces do have negative camber.
What is "company compensation fuel" and "pad fuel"? I tried to find the definition of these fuels but I could't. Does anyone know about company compensation fuel or pad fuel?In which document can I find the definition of these fuels? <Q> Company Compensation Fuel <S> This is a term, which seems to be used by Korean ...	While I have no specific knowledge of these terms being used together, my first thought was that "Pad Fuel" would be fuel gotten from the local pad, and "Company Compensation Fuel" would be fuel that you purchase while away and get reimbursed for, or compensated.
What's the meaning of "the break is a level" in a recovery operation of an aircraft carrier? The break is a level, 180° turn made at 800 feet (240 m), descending to 600 feet (180 m) when established downwind. Landing gear/flaps are lowered, and landing checks are completed. (source: wikimili.com ) <Q> "Level" isn't ...	A break is a turn; that turn is a level turn (neither descending nor ascending), and a 180 degree turn, and it is made at 800 feet.
Why can’t level D simulators produce a G-force effect? From what I know so far, simulators can’t simulate this feeling, I’ve heard some say it will never be possible. Is that true? There’s really no way of producing this in a simulation? <Q> They can produce sustained G-forces, by tilting the sim without the occupant...	The sim cannot reproduce sustained turning G force sensations and it can't reproduce the long term turning effects on your inner ear because it can't rotate in a sustained way.
If pilots in a A320 or 737 had a dual engine failure, would they add flaps for the landing? Would this not be smart to do because you may come in a little fast, therefore the flaps would send you back up? Or would you absolutely want flaps in this situation <Q> Flaps steepen the descent angle - in other words, you run ...	Typically deployment of flaps in a forced landing scenario will only be done once the airplane is guaranteed to make the landing site by gliding in that landing configuration.
How hot do internal parts of jet engine get? How hot does a jet engine get? I'm interested in the temperature of the parts, not of the exhaust or combustion. If you took temperature of an engine after a flight across the Pacific Ocean what are temperatures of stationary and movable parts? A car engine block may be 250 ...	The 'hot section' of a jet engine gas core, which consists of the isobaric combustor, high pressure turbine and low pressure turbine, by far, operates at the highest temperatures.
What happens when a GA pilot squawks 7500? If you were to put code 7500 into your transponder in a small general aviation aircraft, and you were in a rural area with no one around, and you did not have enough fuel to get to any city, what happens? Would they shoot you down? {edit what I meant was if you were being Hija...	The most likely scenario is fighter interception followed by instructions as to where to go and land where ground based law enforcement can take control of the situation.
Why do modern aircraft tend to have angular tails? In the WWII-era and earlier, many (most?) planes had rounded tails, even high-speed and high-performance fighters such as the Bf 109 K, Ta 152 (though it is more square-ish), P-38, Hawker Typhoon, and even the F-80. A notable exception to this trend is the P-51. Mode...	The rounded or elliptical design was found to be the cleanest aerodynamically in non-compressible subsonic airflow, which is why it's very common on aircraft of that era.
What are the least powerful airplanes that ever flew? What manned airplanes have achieved flight with the least powerful engines (no gliders!), and what was their top speed? Im sure I've heard of an airplane with an 8hp engine capable of exceeding 120 MPH airspeed <Q> There are a number of human-powered aircraft (lis...	Some self-launching powered hang gliders and powered paragliders/ paramotors intended for soaring flight must be close contenders for the answer to your question, as some of them have rather weak engines and are barely able to climb in the absence of an updraft despite overall light weight.
Why are no recent small aircraft designed to be "characteristically incapable of spinning" as the Ercoupe was? I'm a student pilot at a flight school that primarily flies RV-12s as a trainer. We had one day that through a booking error meant that all the RV-12s were booked so we had to use their Ercoupe 415-C instead. ...	The usual way to make a plane 'spin proof' is to ensure the centre of the wing (near the fuselage) stalls before the tips, and to move the Centre of Gravity far enough forward that the elevator doesn't have the power to keep the nose up below stall speed.
What is a circling approach? What is a circling approach and why is it necessary? I know that if a runway is not suitable for an instrument approach, the pilots should execute landing on a runway which has an instrument approach available. <Q> To add to the above points... <S> Circling Approaches are used when the Appr...	A circling approach is executed on an instrument approach procedure which or where the final approach segment is not aligned directly with the runway of intended landing.
Does downwash increase or reduce lift generation? I’m wondering about the impact of downwash on lift generation. I've read that, because downwash creates lift according to Newton's third law of motion, increases in downwash due to greater AoA (especially when augmented by devices such as slots and slotted flaps, which ...	In other words, while downwash is necessary for lift, it also results in (induced) drag; increasing the aspect ratio makes downwash more efficient at generating lift and reduces (induced) drag.
Why do airliners park with the nose facing the terminal? A few other questions have touched on why we don't board airliners from the front and back at the same time. My question is why is it that we choose to board at the front, rather than park the aircraft facing away from the terminal? This question shows that par...	Low cost airlines are also more likely to use both front and back doors to speed up disembarking and embarking of the aircraft.
Has any accident been prevented by bending or breaking the rules? I wonder if there is an incident that pilots saved the plane or minimized the damage by bending or breaking the rules like Sully? (As it's known Sullenberger started the APU at first which was the 15th thing in QRH.) Thanks in advance. <Q> First I hav...	One of the more common events is a civilian aircraft making an emergency diversion and landing at a nearby military airbase, such as this 777 flight which diverted to Erickson AB, Shemaya, AK . The rules say to do whatever necessary to ensure safety of flight.
Can a pilot initiate an enroute descent to an IAF without ATC 's approval? An IFR flight is cleared DIRECT to a published IAF for an approach at the destination airport. The cruising altitude is 10,000’, the IAF crossing altitude is 2,000’ and the T/D begins about 24nm prior to the IAF with standard rate of descent. S...	No, you can not descend from your assigned altitude until specifically cleared by ATC to descend.
RATO used to get civilian aircraft out of airports with inadequate runway length? There are plenty of stories of large aircraft accidentally, or emergently, landing at airports that don't meet the plane's runway length requirements. The only solution to getting them out that I've read is stripping them to the point th...	The DH Comet was equipped with RATO.
Why does the UH-1 Huey have a hump at the rear of the cabin? Why does the Huey have this weird hump as shown in the picture? For some system? Why not remove it? https://www.helis.com/h2/uh-1h_seats.jpg <Q> A copy of the original image can be found here , which is about 5 'pagedowns' down this page , which has a n...	It's a bit of structure to guide the rotor forces into the rest of the airframe, it would not be good if this bit went missing.
Do aircraft have accelerometers? Do modern aircraft employ accelerometers or other similar equipment to measure g-forces on the aircraft? I could imagine this being used as an inspection/service indicator, particularly after hard landings. Or do hard landings and other forceful flight regimes typically not pose any sig...	However, while a real time instrument is not needed for a larger air carrier, accelerometers feeding data to a flight data recorder for mishap investigation and recording of life cycle data for airframe fatigue calculations is important. Transport category aircraft don’t carry G meters as it’s not very useful to their ...
Can Flex thrust be lower than climb thrust? Let's restrict this question to airliners with 2 jet engines. For the remaining of the question, I'll use the term flex to designate reduced take off thrust as I'm more familiar with airbus's systems. Flex will be the thrust selected when thrust levers are in the flex dete...	The flex setting is the lowest setting that meets the takeoff and initial departure performance requirement for accelerate/stop and initial climb gradient for that runway and all up weight.
How likely is it that there is someone knowledgeable about piloting in a flight control room? I saw a reasonably looking video about a non-pilot trying to land a plane with the help of a flight control tower (in a simulator): (it is in French). I believe that this was an ideal case where the plane was compatible wi...	While plenty of air traffic controllers are also pilots on the side, it is highly unlikely that anyone on duty at the time would happen to have a type rating in a large complex turbine aircraft, and/or enough knowledge to talk through checklists.
What is physics explanation for minimum sink rate airspeed? I did some research on Minimum Sink Rate, and saw much information defining it, (such as it is the speed at which the aircraft will remain in the air for the longest time, etc.) and how it is generally lower than Best Glide speed, and is generally a few knots ...	At minimum sink rate airspeed, the lift to drag ratio is at its maximum.
How many fastener can an aircraft lose? I see this GIF animation a few times then I wonder how many fastener can an aircraft lose before it becomes dangerous. I’m sure losing one wouldn’t be an issue due to safety margin built into every component of aircraft. But how many fastener? Original link https://www.gifng.c...	There is no straight answer as it depends on the individual fastener and specific aircraft in question.
Can a private jet take off without notifying anybody and land on private land in another country? If you have a friend in the USA who owns a lot of land that is suitable for landing a plane, and you own a private jet with 2 pilots in Norway, can you take off in private property without notifying anybody on what you hav...	No matter from where you takeoff, nor in what country your aircraft is registered, if you cross the US Air Defense Identification Zone, you have to land at an Airport of Entry before proceeding elsewhere. No, you may not do it legally.
Did people really hand-start big bombers in WWII? I am not a pilot so I don't know anything about hand starting propeller aircraft. But I wonder how easily can the propeller fire up unexpectedly during the procedure even if it's done right. Whenever I see an old WWII movie and the guys are turning those big props on th...	Hand-propping was only done on small engines, not bombers or even fighters. If there is an hydraulic lock in a cylinder the starter won't be able to do any damage on its own (it'll either bog down or its clutch will slip), so it's safe to do, if done properly.
Can you fly 2000 miles on an engine that costs less than $500k? If so, what type of engine? Ok so Im exploring ways to bring cargo and medical supplies to various rural cities in say Africa without relying on ground infrastructure. Just short and cheap runways spread around the continent. It seems any type of VTOL plan...	It's perfectly possible to build piston-engined planes with ranges of 2000 miles or more, for instance many WWII planes like the B-17 and B-29, pre-jet airliners like the Lockheed Constellation, or the Rutan Voyager. You should be able to use modern, non-certified engines derived from the automotive market, can fly at ...
How often can I fly my own small plane? I was wondering about how often can one fly a privately owned plane? Is it somehow like owning a car where you just light up the ignition and just drive away? Obviously, there are a lot of regulations and rules... but say I have my plane parked in a hangar in a nearby airport. Ca...	Just like driving a car, you are free to fly an aircraft whenever, wherever (taking into consideration airspace, restrictions, and safety of flight) and however often you like. If you intend to fly IFR, you will need to file a flight plan at least 30 minutes ahead of time. Unlike a car, there is a lot more planning and...
Is it possible to use refrigeration technology to cool the skin of supersonic aircraft? The fastest air breathing aircraft, the Blackbird SR71 flew at speeds above Mach 3. Its engines could achieve much higher speeds but were limited by the aircraft's skin which would melt due to friction with the surrounding air sh...	Yes it is thought practicable to refrigerate the engine intake air, though it has yet to be demonstrated in flight.
Would it be frowned upon that with a uncommanded nose up, the pilots just do a full loop? So what I’m asking is that if a uncommanded nose pitch up happened and was so bad that it reached a pitch angle of 50 degrees, the pilots were unable to stop the pitch up by applying the control column forward, would it be justifi...	In almost all cases of an unexpected pitch-up, it would be better to increase the bank angle to help bring the nose down, if elevator inputs alone are somehow not doing the job. you really don't want to mess around with off-the-cuff spur-of-the-moment loops unless you know with absolute certainty that you are entering ...
Can a fixed-wing plane jump up by blowing air over its wings? NASA's X-57 electric plane has 12 wing-mounted propellors which drive air past the wing. This video describes how the resulting increased air velocity causes an increase in the amount of lift the wing generates. Suppose the propellors could generate enoug...	There have been several weather related incidences where aircraft were picked up off the ground by significantly strong winds.
Does wearing glasses mean you automatically meet the first class medical requirements? I have been wearing glasses for a very long time. If you wear permanent eyeglasses do you automatically meet the FAA first class medical vision requirements? <Q> Certainly not. <S> Eyeglasses can't fix everything. <S> Some people...	If corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) are necessary for 20/20 vision, the person may be eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while exercising the privileges of an airman certificate.
Would a airfoil move backwards if you rotate it vertical Lets say i have a wing with an engine attached to it like a propellor. And now i point the nose of my airplane up untill it is vertical. Would the wing still generate lift because of the air flowing past it. Resulting in a backwards movement of the entire airpla...	For an aerobatic plane prop-hanging, it would depend whether the aerofoil is symmetrical, and the angle at which it is fixed to the plane.
How do STOVL and V/STOL aircraft differ? Wikipedia's page for STOVL begins with A short take-off and vertical landing aircraft ( STOVL aircraft ) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is able to take off from a short runway (or take off vertically if it does not have a heavy payload) and land vertically (i.e. with no run...	To put it simply, it's about the ability to take of vertically at any mass: V/STOL aircraft can take off fully loaded (max. The distinction between STOVL and V/STOL is largely a matter of naming.
Why isn't landing in the water a good option in an emergency? Some people say that landing on water should be considered as a last resort because it is dangerous. But why exactly is it dangerous to land an airplane in the water? Wouldn't it be safer since theoretically, water would reduce the impact? Note: I am referr...	If an aircraft breaks apart upon landing, it greatly endangers the passengers and crew as the aircraft will begin to flood with water and sink.
What should a pilot do if he does not know where he is and has no form of communication? I know this is an almost impossible situation, but... Imagine that a pilot is kidnapped and placed inside a Cessna plane. At a certain point the kidnapper jumps out of the plane, destroying the radio and taking all the aeronautical...	If the pilot becomes concerned about fuel (which any good pilot will at some point) then they should be on the look out for an airfield or a nice area to put the aircraft down. The second thing you should do is use visual reference points to figure out where you may be and get some situational awareness. Aviate, naviga...
What does the flashing green-light signal (return for landing) actually mean to NORDO aircraft? Studying for the PSTAR I see that a flashing green signal while in the circuit means "return for landing" but this is not actually defined anywhere. What does that mean? NORDO = "is an aircraft flying without a radio" <Q...	Put in the chief's colloquial jargon: "Flashing green lets the pilot know "the runway will be there for you when you come back for your next approach."
What is the piece that covers the top part of tires? I would like to know the name and the usefulness of this piece that covers the top of the tire of some planes, such as some Cessnas. <Q> Those are called speed fairings. <S> They make the shape over the tire more aerodynamic and reduce drag, thus increasing airsp...	"Wheel pants" is a common term for these wheel fairings, at least in US usage, which serve to reduce drag.
Why is paragliding not an old invention? Paraglider looks like a rather simple device for me. It does not have a complex engine that needs lots of technology to be built. It also does not need a powered aircraft just to be launched. Looking from the side I have an impression that it can cover serious distances along th...	If you build a paraglider with classic materials, it will be too heavy to fly and way too prone to collapse mid-air.
How do single engine airplanes handle changes in torque? In multirotors, there is a regulation of torque from the rotors which keeps it stable. However, in single engine airplanes, there is only one engine with one propeller. How is the aircraft able to stabilize itself in such a case? <Q> Single engine airplanes expe...	Pilots mitigate this torque by applying engine power smoothly and gradually. As far as i know, the plane is not stabled, pilots always have to stablilize the plane by themselves when they push the throttle up.
How do "tip jet" helicopters cancel the torque effect of the main rotor? Some helicopters use " tip jet " on the rotor blades tips such as the McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry and Hiller YH-32 Hornet . How do they cancel the rotor torque (often canceled by the tail rotor)? <Q> This is a basic physics question, involvin...	If you disconnect the engine from the rotor (for instance via a clutch), you eliminate the torque.
Can lift be increased by increasing the angle of incidence of the wing? Can the lift of a plane be increased by increasing the Angle of Incidence (angle between the chord line of the main wing and the axis of the fuselage)? Meaning, can more lift be generated while the plane is in a horizontal position (i.e. not pitchi...	Increasing the angle of attack would increase lift until you reach the critical angle where you have airflow separation and aerodynamically stall the wing.
Is there a standard word or phrase in the English-speaking world to describe the angle between the fuselage and the flight path / relative wind? Is there a standard word or phrase, or several alternative commonly-used words or phrases, in the English-speaking aviation world to describe the angle between the longitudina...	There is another term which I think fits, called " angle of inclination ", which is the vertical angle of a streamlined body relative to the freestream.
Is a "stalled" aircraft free-falling? If I was in an elevator in a sky-scraper and the cable broke, I would free fall and feel weightless until hitting the ground. When I cause a stall on an airplane (power-ff) and the wings stop producing lift, why doesn't the same effect occur? <Q> If the cables break on an elevator ...	Freefall, as a skydiver, implies no forward movement and no lift, even though many skydiving diciplines do involve both such as tracking, wingsuiting and even formation, where you de-arch to slow yourself down and rise relative to others. A stall is not a free-fall.
Why does Boeing use a trim wheel in the 737 and not their other products? Why does Boeing use a trim wheel in the 737 and not any other products? Is the trimmed state for the 737 just more important than in the 777 ? Or even 747 ? It gives the impression that a secondary control for the trim (If the power to ...	It is likely that trim wheels in newer planes are a "legacy" feature, allowing pilots familiar with an older revision of the cockpit layout to transition to another newer plane in the design series.
What is the name of the movement which is carried out by plane beginning from the runway and ending at takeoff? What is the name of the movement which begins after the plane lines up on the runway and takeoff clearance is received, and ends when the plane lifts off from the runway? Is it also called as ' taxiing '? I k...	I've been flying since the mid 70s and the term has always been "line up" as a generic term to describe the process of moving out onto the runway and stopping once aligned with the runway centre line.
When do the lift and drag vectors contribute a force component along a glider's path of travel as seen from the ground? It is often said that the lift vector helps to propel a glider forwards. The lift vector has no component acting parallel to the glider's trajectory through the airmass, but in many cases the lift ve...	Logicly, the answer is always, with the caveat that the air mass movement velocity and direction must be considered, and yes, along all 3 axes.
Why is the Piper PA-23 considered a bush-plane, while the Beech 95 Travel Air is not? The Beech 95 Travel Air was developed as a direct competitor with the Piper PA-23 . The Piper is considered a reasonably ok bush plane, yet the Beech 95 is not commonly seen as a bush plane (I don't think I've ever seen a Beech 95 ...	While the PA-23 was used more in the bush, neither aircraft can really be considered a "Bush Plane". The Beechcraft (in the above markets) was almost certainly more expensive to buy, more expensive to maintain, somewhat fragile, & considered a nicer, more up-market aircraft.
Why do flaps retract? Why do flaps retract? I know, it might seem obvious at first, because of drag, but instead of retracting the flaps, can't they just make the flaps flexible enough to get into a reduced drag position, and act like an extended wing? Maybe there is a reason we should look into this technology, since...	Flaps are used to control the amount of lift and drag required during flight.
Why do the ratio of proppeler plane over jet engine seems to have change in Bucarest airport during the covid19 crisis? I live in a village very close to an (intl) airport: Bucharest "Henri Coanda" International Airport . Now, due to lock-down caused by covid pandemic, I noticed - at least today when I spent most of t...	It could also be that a lack of air traffic has made any air traffic stand out.
Is there a proper term to use when you're referring to the total number of people on an aircraft, including both the passengers and crew/pilots? I've found that often when people quote the number of passengers on an aircraft, they exclude the crew/pilots, which they'll provide separately. Is there a proper term to use...	The term "complement" is sometimes used for the total capacity of the craft, as in "it has a full complement of passengers and crew on board."
For general aviation small aircraft flying VFR under 10,000 feet, can I use my phone GPS for navigation in the US? For general aviation small aircraft flying VFR under 10,000 feet, can I use my phone GPS for navigation in the US? So no onboard GPS (which are expensive), no VOR/DME, of course there is always dead recko...	Aviation GPS units are designed to be used on aircraft, they are reliable and have airspace maps.
Why did some Spitfire variants have their wings clipped? Some Spitfire variants have clipped wingtips instead of the round, elliptical wingtip. The reason for this is to increase the roll rate and low-altitude performance. My question is: How would clipping the wings of an aircraft increase its low altitude performance...	At low altitudes, increasing the wing loading by reducing the wing area often increases the maximum achievable airspeed, by reducing profile drag.
Why is this airplane flying in circles randomly? This G650 has been flying around for over an hour now. Is this somebody with a mechanical problem who is burning fuel before returning to their airport of origin? <Q> What you observed is probably a Gulfstream production test flight, either an initial or a snag clearanc...	It could be possibly an experimental test flight if Gulfstream runs experimental flying from Savannah
When does ATC contact the pilot for a frequency change? Usually, when the aircraft enters a new flight information region for example, ATC will ask the pilot to enter a new frequency. I'm curious about when they do. Is there a rule about it (in an IFR situation)? I assume it may be different between EASA and FAA regula...	When taxiing from one area to another, the controller will instruct the pilot to change to the next frequency.
Why does the second floor of the Boeing 747 occupy only part of the plane? Why does the second floor of the Boeing 747 occupy only part of the plane, while the second floor of the Airbus a380 occupies the entire space of the plane? <Q> The basic design of the Boeing 747 was originally developed to for the US military...	The 747's cockpit was raised for a different aviation market.
Why does wingwalking use only biplanes? Wingwalking is an aerobatic discipline with shows such as this one .The definition of wingwalking from Wikipedia gives no other alternative than using biplanes: Wing walking is the act of moving along the wings of a biplane during flight [...] (source: Wikipedia, as of 26...	Two wings means more aerodynamic lift. There's a nostalgia element to be considered, now that the style of plane is out of fashion, and has been for some time.
Why do turbofans go faster than turboprops? Can someone explain why turboprops are less effective in terms of thrust than turbofans? But at the same time, why turboprops burn less fuel? For example, the Bombardier Q400/De Havilland Dash 8 has a fuel burn of 2.79L/seat/100km, whilst the 737 MAX 8 with the same number of...	However thermodynamically it is more efficient to accelerate a greater mass of air slower, so turboprops are more efficient and that translates into lower fuel burn.
Is optimal landing flare related to ground effect? Based on other questions it appears that a "flare" is always part of a healthy airplane landing . This question asked when a flare should be started, and I found it interesting that the accepted answer expressed it in terms of altitude. Which got me wonderi...	The flare, or roundout, is performed as a part of landing in order to accomplish two things: 1) Arrest the rate of descent on the approach and 2) place the aircraft in the proper attitude for it to gently touch down on its landing gear.
How do propeller planes sync their propellers? While reading this question, I found that the answers did not address the point I had come for. On planes with electronic propeller synchronization, how is it actually accomplished? I know why propeller synchronization is useful but I am curious about the mechanisms be...	The sync system on the P-3 also takes inputs through a potentiometer attached to the power levers, and can start increasing or decreasing blade angles if you change your power setting quickly.
Are there any aircraft with a 4-wheel nose landing gear and a 16-wheel main landing gear? Are there any aircraft with a 4-wheel nose landing gear and a 16-wheel main landing gear? I need this to answer my review of an aircraft design project. <Q> this one has a better view of the wheels, but it's a CGI: <S> 4-wheel...	The Il-76: 4 main bogies with 4 wheels each, nose gear with 4 wheels.
What are these beams sticking out of the Su-17's nose? As visible in the image above, there are these 2 beams sticking out of the Su-17's nose. One is longer and one is shorter. What are the purpose of these beams and exactly what do they do? <Q> conical nose reminded of its predecessor as much as the MiG-21, and en...	Those are Pitot tubes , used to measure the dynamic pressure in front of the aircraft, from which the airspeed can be calculated.
The NASA X-57 uses 12 electric motors for takeoff. Does it need 12 control levers or just one? If the NASA X-57 uses 12 motors for takeoff, does it need 12 controllers (like throttle levers), or just one? The traditional way of engine throttle design was 1 throttle per engine, but what if you have 12 engines? Twelve...	In the case of a multi-engine electric airplane, you would want at least two controls to account for differential thrust when desired. The need for throttles is to provide a linkage to the carburetor/throttle body in the age when everything was mechanical.
How are turboprops and other propeller planes pressurized? I know how most turbofan jets are pressurized: But it can't be the same with turboprops, as I don't understand how propellers can take in the air. Yet, planes like Q400s can fly above 8000', all the way up and higher than FL220! Can somebody explain how this ...	A turboprop plane can be pressurized in the same way a turbofan plane can: via bleed air from the compressor stage of the turbine engine.
Can anybody give an example about Clearance Expiry Time? Clearance content is included: callsign, flight path, clearance border(destination aerodrome, available report point, controlled airspace border), flight level along the route or for a specific part of the route, etc. and end time of clearance or clearance exp...	At an uncontrolled airfield, you would have from the time of activation until the end time of clearance or clearance expiry time to takeoff and have wheels up.
Which is more efficient: a jet engine or a rocket-powered engine? Knowing that rocket powered engines have higher speeds than jet engines, it raises the question: are jet engines more efficient than rocket powered engines? This is of course in terms of fuel consumption per distance traveled, as I am curious whether a ...	Even if you add afterburning, a jet is more efficient.
Is it possible to use US-made engines in Russian made air-frames? Suppose, someone buys 300 Pratt & Whitney engines from the USA and 150 Mig-35 air frames from Russia. Then, they use their in-house expertise to fit those engines to those air-frames. What challenges would have to be faced by the user? <Q> Or on some oc...	Re-engine an existing airframe is such a complex undertaking, in a way that so much R&D is required that the entire aircraft ends up being reverse engineered to make it work. The only US-built engine that could both fit and power the MiG-35 is the GE-414, after some modifications.
Does the FAA generally consider a door opening in an unpressurized cabin during flight to be an emergency? Sometimes doors pop open on older training aircraft during flight. I've read some indications from poorly-documented sources suggesting that this is considered an emergency, but it doesn't appear to be addresse...	Opening the door (or in some cases, the tail) does not seem to adversely affect performance enough to classify it as an emergency. I've never seen a FAA or other country authority publication saying it was an emergency. On the checklists for three different aircraft models from my former flight school, it was also list...
Is it possible to have an angle of incidence for a vertical stabilizer? horizontal surfaces in airplane have small angle of incidence in general, Is it possible to have an angle of incidence for a vertical stabilizer?Please help me to find it. Thanks!! <Q> Some vertical stabilizers will have a slight angle of incidence...	The angle of incidence is the angle between the chord line and a reference line on the fuselage.
Why don't ailerons affect pitch? Why don't ailerons affect pitch, or do they? I'm told spoilers can affect pitch if not placed in the right spot. On a classic standard wing configuration, why don't ailerons affect pitch as they are at the trailing edge and would create a moment around the spar which I'm told it usual...	Because their movement works in opposite directions to each other, any pitching moment one side might cause is cancelled out by a pitching moment going the other way from the aileron on the other wing.
Do we need to know the true track to a VOR? An aircraft can lock onto the location of a VOR and we can see the QDM (magnetic bearing to the station) to the VOR. If this is the case, do we still need to know the true track of that route? And if so, why? By extension, if we essentially have all we need to get to the VOR...	The short answer is no, you don't need the true bearing to the station if you have magnetic bearing.
When was the first THS (Trimmable horizontal stabilizer) used and on what aircraft? When was the first THS (Trimmable horizontal stabilizer) used and on what aircraft? Has any UL or GA trimmable stabilizer? <Q> If the question is understood to encompass any form of horizontal stabilizer which may be adjusted in flight ...	According to page 9 of the book "Aces Wild" by Al Blackburn ( see this Googlebooks link ), the first use of an in-flight-adjustable horizontal stabilizer was in 1929 by Clarence Gilbert Taylor in his B-2 "Chummy", which eventually evolved into the Taylor Cub and then the Piper Cub, all of which used the same stabilizer...
Is there a more specific term than 'flight line' for straight lines flown during flight? I work for a small software startup, where its just my boss and I. Prior to this job, I had no experience with aircraft. We have a client that uses our software to fly a pattern over an area, where they fly straight for a while, tu...	Without delving into too much detail, the most appropriate pilot terms for the straight legs of the search grid you describe would be “track”, or “course”. When pilots, ATC, and others in the aviation field describe an aircrafts path, they use terms such as the following: Route Return route Round-robin route
How do pilots travel from remote private airports after landing? What if you fly your own personal plane to a small private airport in the countryside that has no public transportation? I imagine that most pilots don't have a car parked at each private airport they intend on flying to. That is, of course, unless your c...	Many small airports in the US have a car (often a retired police car) available for itinerant pilots to borrow.
Am I Required to Use the Runway Advised by a Unicom? Let's say that an uncontrolled airport's ASOS reports wind 060 @ 6 knots. The airport's unicom advisory states that Runway 22 is in use. Am I required to use Runway 22, or can I use Runway 4? <Q> You are not required, but it is advisable if there are other aircraft...	As the other posters have said, you can use whatever runway you want, within reason.
What is the purpose of classifying fighters? Fighters are classified by generation, as explained in this answer . Given this Wikipedia sum up , some fighters are not clearly in a defined generation, especially for 4th generation subclasses. Thus people may not agree on a list of fighters that belongs to a generation....	Knowing the generation of a fighter is useful for people who aren't experts on the subject who need a quick broad understanding of the capabilities of historic and modern fighter aircraft, and who need to know roughly where a given aircraft fits into the large picture.
Can tailwind produce reverse-thrust? I know that the answer will probably be no, and this question might sound silly, but I wanted to think outside of the box. If engine air intake comes from the front, and is pushed out through the back, what happens if the tailwind is so strong that the opposite happens, and the air...	Once you're in the air, there is no such thing as a tailwind as far as the airplane is concerned except insofar as tailwinds add to ground speed.
Can the "G" and "VRB" wind conditions be combined in METARs? I have never seen the "VRB" (for wind direction variations < 60°; e.g. VRB12003KT) and "G" annotation (for gusts > 10KT wind speed difference; e.g. 12003GT30KT) being combined in a METAR. Until now I have just seen: VRB03KT (so "VRB" without gusts) 120...	As other answers say, yes, this is valid.

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