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1500 questions
26
votes
6 answers
Why are hangars so high?
Or, to be more precise why was the Type-C hangar so tall? Built in the 1930s across many airfields in the UK, it was built with a higher roof (11 m) than any contemporary aircraft. (higher even than the tail of the worlds largest aircraft the…
ConanTheGerbil
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26
votes
4 answers
If jets carried pure O2 to use for combustion, would they be more efficient?
Air is around 21% Oxygen. The bulk of air is non-flammable Nitrogen. Wouldn't surrounding the jet fuel with only O2 create more efficient and clean combustion?
Jon Rausch
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26
votes
2 answers
Aircraft emergency oxygen: how hard do I pull on the mask?
AKA 'why is the safety briefing/training inadequate'. I tried Googling my title and got lots of sites explaining the emergency oxygen systems, procedures etc. that I already mostly knew. The briefing: 'Pull sharply on the tube to start the flow of…
Martin James
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25
votes
1 answer
Were there any planes used in WWII that were able to shoot their own tail?
In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, there's a scene where Indiana is piloting a plane and his father is acting as gunner. While shooting at incoming enemy planes, he accidentally shoots his own tail, forcing an emergency landing. According to an…
Elerium115
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25
votes
2 answers
Slanted Brown Rectangles on Aircraft Carriers?
What are the rectangles adjacent to the arresting gear on Aircraft Carriers? Are they service hatches?
https://www.kastalon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ford-emals-3.jpg
aerojetman62
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25
votes
5 answers
How to convince the FAA to cancel family member's medical certificate?
A close family member is over 70, early dementia, severe cardiovascular disease, frequently falls asleep at inappropriate times during the day, on 10+ prescriptions, overweight, high blood pressure. Has blacked out from cardio events and more. The…
Speedy the Fastest
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25
votes
7 answers
Why is carb icing an issue in aircraft when it is not an issue in a land vehicle?
As far as I know, the mechanics and physics of an aircraft carburetor are the same as those of an automobile carb. (If I'm wrong, there is no basis for this question.) Aircraft carbs are provided with a carb heat option, while no auto carb that I'm…
FreeMan
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25
votes
1 answer
Why are there 6 airports that straddle the Canada–US border?
I read on the Wikipedia page for the Avey Field State/Laurier Airport:
Also known as Avey Field State/Laurier Airport, it is one of six airports that straddle the Canada–US border. The others are Whetstone International Airport, Coutts/Ross…
Franck Dernoncourt
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25
votes
1 answer
What is the lift to drag ratio of a human being?
If a person falls at terminal velocity, and tries to steer himself with his limbs, what is the maximum lift to drag ratio he can achieve, and what position would that be in?
Abdullah is not an Amalekite
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25
votes
3 answers
Why does Schiphol Airport have such a long taxi?
I recently flew into Schiphol and experienced a very long taxi time (about 20 minutes) from landing to pulling into the pier at the terminal. Given that the flight was only 90 minutes from closing air plane doors to opening air plane doors. I feel…
medina
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25
votes
2 answers
How to avoid or cope with a bad day where my flying felt sloppy?
This morning I went out to do a flight and I wasn’t my usual self. I was just sloppy in the pattern, not hitting my speeds, overshooting the final, radios were sub par.
Backstory. Last week I was doing well, my instructor said we need to keep this…
youngpilot
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25
votes
3 answers
Why is waste water from lavatory sinks dumped outside in mid-flight?
I learned that the waste water from the lavatory sink in most commercial airliners is dumped outside the aircraft while in flight. Is this really the case? If so, why is the waste water dumped outside instead of being stored in the septic tank…
Flux
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25
votes
2 answers
Are there diversion points for southern Pacific great circle route flights?
At first I wasn't even sure if any airlines flew southern Pacific great circle route flights, but it looks like Qantas (QFA27) operates a flight between Sydney and Santiago, Chile.
For northern Pacific greate circle routes, you are flying near…
Jeff B
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25
votes
1 answer
Who controls mood lighting on a commercial airplane?
Who is in charge of controlling the mood lighting on commercial airplanes such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787? How is it controlled?
Thomas Rettig
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25
votes
4 answers
Does breathing 100% oxygen cause health issues?
When flying at high altitudes in an unpressurized plane, you use portable oxygen tanks to prevent hypoxia and other altitude-related symptoms. but does this 100% pure oxygen cause health issues when flying at high altitude?
Boeing787
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