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1500 questions
26
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Why does a missile have small wings but better agility than a plane?
An anti air missile has often very small wings but out performs a fighter aircraft, e.g. much higher g-load, since g-load comes from lift which is the area of wing.
Why not designing an aircraft like a missile? E.g. low drag, high agility.
user2174870
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How can a stowaway hide in the undercarriage?
I'm curious about how and where a stowaway could hide in the undercarriage of a plane.
According to this news report:
The man, believed aged 24, was found in the undercarriage of the
plane and was taken to hospital.
Raffael
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26
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Why are the call signs of some airlines completely different than their name?
The call sign of U.S. Airways is "Cactus", and that of British Airways is "Speedbird"; while for Malaysia Airlines is "Malaysia", Qantas is just simple "Qantas".
Why is it that the call signs of some airlines are so different from their names?
anshabhi
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26
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1 answer
What provides the greatest thrust in a high-bypass turbofan engine?
I'll try to make as much sense as I can with this question.
I've been flying quite often in 2015, and I have recently wondered this question regarding high-bypass turbofan engines. I know that there are two primary parts to the high-bypass turbofan:…
magicmq
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How does the Airbus flight computer's voting system work?
From what I've read about Airbus planes is that their fly-by-wire system works by having three different flight control computers calculate what the plane should be doing and then vote on all the three outcomes about which to take. I would hope that…
JustSid
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26
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6 answers
What makes a bomber able to deliver nuclear bombs?
Currently the German Luftwaffe has Panavia Tornados to deliver American nuclear bombs in case of war. The bombers are getting older and are currently modernized. The German Luftwaffe also has Eurofighter Typhoons which are said to not be able to…
Martin Schröder
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26
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Why does NASA have F/A-18s?
I always remember playing FSX as a kid and using the NASA F/A-18, and never thought much about it. And then I saw the picture of the Space Shuttle on top of the 747 being escorted by these planes.
Why does NASA have these fighter jets?
What are…
Keegan
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26
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Can a landing aircraft snag multiple wires when landing on an aircraft carrier?
There are 4 arresting wires on an aircraft carrier separated by about 50 feet and usually the pilot tries to snag the 3rd one but he does have the option to snag the first or second one.
What stops the tailhook from engaging the wires in front of…
user99379
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26
votes
8 answers
Why is landing on a carrier not handled by a computer?
Landing on a carrier seems like a difficult and risky task for military pilots, especially at night when the carrier should keep low profile and is practically unlit.
It seems exactly like a problem which can better be performed by a computer rather…
Arseni Mourzenko
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How is it safe for helicopters and Ospreys to refuel in mid-air?
How do military helicopters like the Blackhawk and CH-53, as well as the V-22 Osprey, perform mid-air refueling without their rotor blades (periodically and accidentally) contacting the drogue or fuel hose and causing a major accident?
I imagine…
AllTradesJack
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26
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What safety features prevent jets sucking in ground staff or equipment?
There have been some gruesome deaths involving ground staff being sucked into jet engines, presumably because the engine thrust was set well above idle. Are there safety features (besides prudence on the flight deck) that are designed to mitigate…
Hugh
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26
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2 answers
Can I sell a 1975 Piper Cherokee Archer II with no Logs?
My father had a major stroke and I’m having to sell off his assets to fund his healthcare. One of the assets is a 1975 Cherokee Archer Piper PA-28-181. Unfortunately, I can’t find his logs/maintenance records. It’s quite frustrating because he was…
Vance Baker
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Should I telephone tower to tell them I'm alive?
Yesterday I had a somewhat stressful flight out of a busy airport back to my local airfield.
After take-off the navigation "equipment" (a tablet) failed, the controller asked me for my position around a mile out, my response was incorrect as I was…
Cloud
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26
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1 answer
Can you help identify this vintage aircraft?
Please help identify this aircraft. Photo taken in Rijeka, Croatia early 1900s
Chris Volker
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26
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2 answers
How can Ural Airlines fly an A320 from an unpaved field after an emergency landing?
Ural Airlines flight 1383 had to land in a field due to hydraulic problems and fuel shortage. The airline does not scrap it, but is repairing (source) and is going to fly it. A320 landing gear is not suitable for soft surface. How are they going to…
culebrón
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