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1500 questions
25
votes
6 answers
What is the most economical way to store a small aircraft in a place with severe weather?
I'm interested in possibly owning a small aircraft sometime in the future. In the interest of finding out how much money it would cost, I recently called a local FBO and asked about a hangar rental. I was told that it starts out at over $300 per…
Vivian River
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25
votes
1 answer
What is the meaning and difference between CTAF, UNICOM and MULTICOM in the US?
What is the meaning and difference between CTAF, UNICOM and MULTICOM in the US? Could you please give examples of radio communications with the correct phraseology to be adopted in each case?
Francesco C
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25
votes
2 answers
Why are westbound transatlantic routes located hundreds of km away from eastbound routes?
Are jet streams a net benefit in time and fuel savings? provides (basic) explanations about jet streams in the Pacific. However I'm looking for an answer focused on North Atlantic area, explaining the track system and the tracks location. In…
mins
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25
votes
6 answers
Are turboprops more efficient than piston engines (thrust per fuel consumption)?
I want to compare two types of engines: Turboprops and piston engines. I want to know which one is more efficient. There are many types of efficiencies, so I will specify: thrust (in newtons) per fuel consumption (kg/second).
Right now I don't care…
DrZ214
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25
votes
2 answers
What are the pros and cons of scimitar propellers?
I know scimitar propellers are used to reduce noise, but what is their downside? There has to be one, considering most propellers don't use that shape.
Southbob
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25
votes
1 answer
What is the purpose of fins on the empennage on some helicopters?
The S-70 Black Hawk has some kind of movable surfaces on its tail, look:
Source: Airliners.net
They look like "elevators" on airplanes. Does anybody know what are these things for?
user13197
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25
votes
3 answers
Why does this shockwave not touch the body that creates it?
In the shock wave of the next image (in a blunt body)
Why the wavefront is in front of the object? It does not assume that if the object travels faster than the speed of sound wave front should be just touching the object that causes it ?
XF-91
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25
votes
4 answers
Is it a flight violation to mishear ATC instructions for exiting the runway?
I was on landing rollout and misheard a tower "turn off at xxx switch ground" call. We read back the incorrect taxi way and turned off there and switched to the ground frequency. After our incorrect read back we were not contacted again until ground…
Andykraven
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25
votes
2 answers
How are airliners secured on the ground during hurricanes?
Say a major hurricane is expected to hit. Given that the weather is known beforehand, what can be done to avoid damage to the airliners sitting on the tarmac?
Fly every plane away - not very economical, considering that commercial operations cease…
kevin
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25
votes
7 answers
Could most commercial jet engines today run on ethanol without any problems?
Most commercial jet engines today would be those large jet engines on large passenger craft like a Boeing 747. Can these run on straight ethanol without any problems?
Would more maintenance be required? Would the engine lifetime be reduced? Would it…
DrZ214
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25
votes
3 answers
How do I get attention on a busy radio channel?
As I understand it (I'm not a pilot), radio communications are a more-or-less first come first served proposition. If I'm in busy airspace with near constant communication between ATC & aircraft, how do I break in to make contact with the ATC for…
FreeMan
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25
votes
3 answers
Why fly VFR at all?
Really novice question here: if both the pilot and the aircraft are instrument-rated, why would anyone fly VFR? IFR lets one fly in a wider range of weather conditions and at night while there are no situations where VFR is allowed and IFR isn't. Or…
0x60
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25
votes
3 answers
What is a TRACON?
What is a TRACON or Terminal Control?
When do pilots need to be helped by a TRACON?
Where is it usually located and what is the difference between TRACON, En Route and Tower?
user13197
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25
votes
4 answers
What is the purpose of eyebrow windows?
Nowadays they are no longer needed but why do they cover them up like in this photo?
What is their purpose and why aren't they used anymore?
Source
user13197
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25
votes
3 answers
What liability concerns would drive an airplane homebuilder to scrap their plane?
Via this post by Ron Rapp, I found this video of a plane owner and builder dismantling a GA plane and then scrapping the airframe. The video claims this is because
after consulting with aviation attorneys and other experts regarding builder's…
E.P.
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