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10 Amazing Facts You Probably don’t know about airplanes

Here are some incredible facts about airplanes that you probably didn’t know. Now, let’s study in this section.

Here are some incredible facts about airplanes that you probably didn’t know. Now, let’s study in this section.

The Wright Brothers discovered the first plane in the air at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. Both have undergone a significant transformation, and the wooden and fabric contraptions of the past are very different from the enormous, sleek-looking Boeing Dreamliner of the present. It is difficult to keep track of the incredible facts that might be accomplished by modern airplanes given the rapid improvement of aircraft technology with each passing day.

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1. What are the safest seats on an airplane?

According to the FAA data study, The middle seat in the back/rear of the aircraft had the lowest death rate (28%), and the majority of aviation professionals agree that the back of the aircraft is less risky than the front. A study by Popular Mechanics website found that those sitting towards the plane’s tail had a 40% higher chance of surviving a crash than those in the front, and the middle seats in the back of the plane had the best chances of surviving.

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2. Airplane Tyres Don’t Explode on Landing Because They Are Pumped

When you consider it, airplane tires are very incredible. A 38-ton weight may be supported by standard airplane tires. It can touch the ground 500 times before needing to be retreaded and it is strong enough to hold aircraft weight, and it can be refreshed seven times throughout its lifespan. The first few seconds after a plane lands, the tires are sliding rather than rolling. They are essentially dragged by the airplane down the runway until their rotating speed is equal to that of the aircraft. They smoke as they land for this reason.

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3. Some planes have secret bedrooms

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Some aircraft like Boeing 777 and 787 that contain a hidden staircase that leads to a small number of windowless bedrooms, allowing passengers to stretch out in their seats during lengthy flights. This enables crew members to rest without being disturbed, or to take a power nap. There are times when certain rooms are designated for pilots only. The majority of airplanes have the crew sleeping accommodations located behind the cockpit, above the first-class seats, despite different designs.

4. Why does plane food taste is strange

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The taste of airline meals is a frequent source of criticism. However, they don’t take into account adequately the fact that they are flying at 500 mph in a pressurized cabin at a height of about 30,000 feet. The dry air at high altitudes interferes with taste receptors’ ability to detect flavors, in addition to the low pressure that reduces scent. Studies have revealed that traveling by plane might cause a 30% reduction in taste perception. Food is often over-salted and unsweetened by airlines as a form of compensation, which slightly detracts from the flavor.

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5. Airplanes window have Tiny holes

A tiny hole that has several roles than primarily being unsightly. Although tiny, the hole really contributes to passenger safety. It all ultimately comes down to pressure, the lower the oxygen at a certain height, the more likely it is that a person may feel sick and out of breath. The tiny hole in the interior window is to regulate the pressure for the middle pane to remain intact until an unlikely event occurs. 

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6. Ashtrays are seen in the Bathroom

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There are still ashtrays in airline restrooms despite the FAA’s long-standing ban on smoking in aircraft. Despite a no-smoking policy and multiple no-smoking signage, airlines have reasoned that at some point, a chain smoker passenger would decide to light up a cigarette aboard an aircraft. This is the justification given for the placement of these ashtrays. If they do, it will be in a small space, like the airline bathroom. When it comes to disposal, they would put the cigarette butt in the ashtray rather than the trash can where it can catch fire. Be warned, though, as smoking in an airline bathroom carries a huge penalty.

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7. Why planes leave trails in the sky

Condensation trails are what give those white streaks in the sky their scientific name of “contrails.” During the combustion process, water vapor is released from airplane engines. The puffy white lines in the sky are the result of hot water vapour being pushed out of the exhaust and interacting with the cooler higher atmosphere. It’s similar to how you feel when you can see your breath in a cold environment.

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8. Dim cabin lights during takeoffs and landings at night

During night takeoffs and landings, airlines mostly reduce their cabin lighting for safety reasons. It makes the area safer by making it simpler for passengers to locate the emergency exits and enabling them to adjust their vision in case of an emergency.

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9.Piolts and Co-pilots are required to eat different meals on the plane

60 Pilots, 150 Cabin Crew Members Suspended By DGCA For Failing Alcohol Test

 

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In order to limit the chance of pilots getting sick, separate meals are served to the pilot and co-pilot. In an interview of a Korean pilot conducted by CNN in the year 2012, it was revealed that pilots and co-pilots are served separate food to avoid food poisoning.

10. Planes can fly with one engine and land with none

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A twin-engine aircraft can still fly flawlessly with just one engine. Even with just one engine, it can still continue the takeoff and land without incident. The majority of the time, an engine failure in flight is not a serious issue, and pilots receive considerable training on how to handle such a circumstance.

 

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Aerospace

The LCA Tejas Aircraft Crash: Understanding the Reasons – Air Marshal GS Bedi’s Perspective

The LCA Tejas Aircraft Crash: Understanding the Reasons - Air Marshal GS Bedi's Perspective

Air Marshal GS Bedi, a renowned fighter jet pilot and experienced crew member, recently participated in a YouTube interview with Def Talks hosted by Aadi. During the interview, he provided insights into the recent Tejas aircraft crash in Rajasthan, which marks one of the first crashes involving an aircraft from the Tejas family since its production commenced 20 years ago.

Numerous questions have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the Tejas aircraft crash and the potential causes of failure. Air Marshal Bedi adeptly addressed these concerns by outlining possible scenarios that could have led to the crash. His expertise shed light on the complexities involved in such incidents and provided valuable perspective on the aviation community’s understanding of the event.

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At the outset, Tejas lacked a simulator and a trainer aircraft for initial training. However, pilots were provided with simulation trials before flying the Tejas aircraft. Initial reviews indicated stability during flight, with the aircraft maintaining a straight glide. However, there was an incident where the aircraft experienced an engine malfunction, prompting the pilot to eject safely.

Pilot Safe Ejections

The decision to eject was made as a precautionary measure, considering the aircraft’s low altitude and steep descent angle. With the aircraft’s altitude dropping rapidly, attempting to balance and land it was deemed too risky. Ejecting ensured the pilot’s safety, as deploying a parachute at such low altitudes could have been disastrous.

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He chose to eject to ensure a safer distance from the ground. The aircraft is at an angle of less than 3 degrees during the approach. At a height of 100 meters, the aircraft is nearly 20 times its length away from the ground. This means the touchdown point will be approximately 4 kilometers ahead.

However, as the altitude decreases, the approach becomes too short due to the rapid descent rate. Consequently, the pilot opts to eject rather than attempt to stabilize the aircraft for a ground landing. If he had not ejected, there’s a high probability that his parachute would have deployed at that low altitude.

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LCA Tejas engine Issue

Investigations revealed the engine malfunction was likely due to lubrication issues or other technical faults. Such split-second decisions underscore the potentially catastrophic outcomes that can result from technical failures.

The pilot involved was highly experienced and well-trained for airshow displays, suggesting timely decision-making. Nevertheless, accidents can stem from technical glitches, human errors, or unforeseen circumstances like bird strikes.

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Air Marshal Bedi emphasized the importance of pilots being trained for emergency situations, including ejecting from the aircraft when control is lost. Despite advancements in technology, technical issues remain unpredictable, necessitating ongoing learning and improvements in aircraft systems.

Today, the Tejas mk1A aircraft completed its inaugural flight at the Bangalore station, marking the dawn of a new, advanced version of the Tejas aircraft. This iteration boasts enhanced avionics and improved aircraft structure.

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Aerospace

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China consistently keeps aviation enthusiasts surprised with its advancements in fighter jets and other aircraft. Leading the pack in Asia, China continuously pushes boundaries in developing domestically-built aircraft.

Recently, images circulating on the internet reveal China’s latest creation, the Z-21 helicopter. Resembling its predecessor, the Z-10, this helicopter boasts enhanced fighter capabilities. The emergence of these images sparks questions regarding the fate of plans to acquire Russian-made Ka-52K attack helicopters, particularly the naval version.

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Observing the helicopter in flight, it shares design elements with the Harbin Z-10, notably in the front fuselage and cockpit canopy. The wing stubs for weapon mounts exhibit similar shapes, though with less pronounced angular features. With a tandem seating arrangement, the Z-21 also draws comparisons to the Mil Mi-28, featuring an elongated body with five rotor blades and weapon bays on its sides.

The unveiling of the Z-21 has triggered speculation about its potential role in future military operations. Analysts suggest that beyond its firepower, its introduction could signal significant technological advancements. There’s particular interest in whether China will incorporate a ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ system akin to later Apache models, enabling the Z-21 to control armed drones for reconnaissance and attacks, reducing risks to the helicopter itself.

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The emergence of the Z-21 underscores China’s increasing military prowess and its commitment to developing cutting-edge weaponry. Its deployment and capabilities will be closely monitored, especially concerning regional security dynamics.

The helicopter presents a significant challenge to American-built Apache and other medium helicopters, boasting superior capacity for flying at higher altitudes and more powerful speed and combat capabilities, thus enhancing its effectiveness on the battlefield. On the other hand, amidst ongoing Indian border tensions, this aircraft is poised to play a crucial role in surveillance along the sensitive China border and beyond.

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Qantas Airbus A330 Makes Safe Landing After Engine Blowout

Woman spends tortuous three months trying to resolve huge Qantas errors

A Qantas Airbus A330 Aircraft, flight number QF781, has landed safely without incident in
Perth after the passengers on the Perth-bound flight reported hearing a ‘loud bang’ from one
side of the twin-engined plane engine. The Airbus A330 aircraft made a priority landing at
Perth Airport around 9:37pm local time on 25 March, arriving approximately 52 minutes
behind schedule.


Upon landing, emergency services met with the aircraft on the tarmac. However, the aircraft
taxied to the gate without assistance, with the passengers disembarking normally.
The ‘loud bang’ heard by passengers happened due to a mid-air engine blowout, therefore
resulting in the pilots having to manually shut off the affected engine, together with
requesting a priority landing into Perth Airport. Qantas also added in a statement that the
Airbus A330 aircraft was designed to operate with one engine too.

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Qantas QF781 is a daily scheduled flight from Melbourne to Perth, utilising the Airbus A330
on the route. The Aircraft in question is VH-EBA, an approximately 21 years aircraft,
equipped with 2 GE CF6 engines according to airfleets.net. The Airbus A330 have been a
frequent regional workhorse in Qantas’ fleet, connecting major australian cities with major
destinations within Asia. the Airbus A330 is also used on high-density domestic routes,
similar to QF781, from Melbourne to Perth.

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Engine Issues – Should you be concerned?


While engine issues are highly uncommon due to the stringent checks and quality control on
each component within the engine, there might still be exceptional occasions where such
incidents happen. However, while recognising the risks of dual engines, Aircraft
Manufacturers and Organisations have actually came up with standards so as to ensure that
an aircraft can also land on a single engine, similar to what we saw on QF781.


One of the most well known standard is Extended-range Twin-engine Operations
Performance Standards (ETOPS) which is an acronym for twin-engine operation in an
airspace further than one hour from a diversion airport at a designated one engine
inoperable speed. This ensures that twin-engined aircraft could safely operate routes over
water or remote land without an alternative airport near the flight path, which once required
aircraft with 3 or 4 engines to fly on that route.

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In this case, the Airbus A330 has been certified to fly ‘Beyond ETOPS 180’, and have
received ETOPS 240 certification, which is a certification to enable the twin-engined aircraft
to fly for up to a maximum of 240 minutes with 1 engine inoperative in a cruise condition.
Currently, most twin-engined widebody aircraft in operation would generally have an ETOPS
certification of at least ETOPS 180, with the new Airbus A321LR also having ETOPS 180
certification, therefore enabling the narrowbody to fly long haul flights.

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Boeing CEO Resigns Amid 737 MAX Crisis, Ignites Management Overhaul

Boeing CEO Resigns Amid 737 MAX Crisis, Ignites Management Overhaul

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has announced his resignation amidst the ongoing 737 MAX crisis, signaling a significant top management shakeup at the aerospace giant.

While Calhoun will continue leading the company until the end of 2024, his decision comes amid mounting pressure following a series of setbacks, including the recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight. This departure coincides with the retirement of Boeing Commercial President and CEO Stan Deal, who is succeeded by Stephanie Pope, the current Chief Operating Officer.

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The announcement, made by Larry Kellner, boeing products chairman, outlines a broader restructuring within the company’s leadership. Steve Mollenkopf, a Boeing director since 2020 and former CEO of Qualcomm, will take over as chairman and lead the board in selecting a new CEO. This strategic move comes at a critical juncture as boeing airplanes
faces intense regulatory scrutiny and production constraints due to safety and quality issues.

The market’s initial response to the news was positive, with Boeing’s shares rising by 2 percent before regular trading. However, the boeing aircraft company stock had experienced a significant decline earlier in the year, reflecting investor concerns about boeing distribution aviall the ongoing challenges and uncertainties surrounding the 737 MAX program.

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Calhoun stressed the company’s commitment to transparency, safety, and quality in a letter to employees.“We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency. We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company,” he said.

“The eyes of the world are on us, and I know we will come through this moment a better company, building on all the learnings we accumulated as we worked together to rebuild Boeing over the last number of years.”

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