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Aviation: questions and answers

The most searched questions about Aviation, with a direct answer, an explanation and sources.

Hammersfan (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How did the Nimrod AEW.3 solve radar coverage?
With the Fore Aft Scanner System: with no room for a rotodome, GEC fitted one scanner in a bulbous radome in the nose and another in the tail. The nose… more…
Records and curiosities
Which piston-engine fighter had the longest production run in US history?
The Vought F4U Corsair: built from 1942 to 1953, the longest production run of any American piston-engine fighter. The last Corsair built left the factory on… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Why did Airbus launch the A320 before the four-engine A340?
Airbus launched the single-aisle first: working on the A320 instead of the four-engine aircraft the Germans proposed created divisions within Airbus. The A320… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the Constellation that crashed into Mount Toubkal in 1969 carrying?
Weapons bound for Biafra. The L-749 registered 5N-85H crashed on November 28, 1969, into Mount Toubkal, in the Moroccan Atlas, about 60 miles south of… more…
Aviation history
What did Maryse Hilsz win in 1936?
In 1936 Maryse Hilsz won the Hélène Boucher Cup flying a Breguet 270 Series. That same year, on 23 June, she set a new women's altitude record of 14,309 m… more…
Military aviation
Where is the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford?
The home port of the USS Gerald R. Ford is Naval Station Norfolk (Virginia), where it returns between deployments; its exact position at sea isn't released in… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What were some Super Constellations used for in North American forests in the 1970s?
To spray forests with pesticides against the spruce budworm, a pest that defoliates conifers. One of these aircraft, the L-1049H N173W, crashed on June 9… more…
Ketelhohn [Kettelhohn] (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many German aircraft did the RAF claim on 15 September 1940, and how many were there really?
The RAF claimed to have shot down 185 German aircraft over the whole day. The actual losses were far lower: 58 or around 61 aircraft, according to different… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Which is the only unit that flies the MH-47 special operations helicopters?
The U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). The MH-47 is unique to this unit: a long-range Chinook with in-flight refueling and… more…
Aviation history
How long did the Aero A.24 bomber take to climb to 3,000 m?
The Aero A-24 needed 36 minutes and 50 seconds to climb to 3,000 m (9,800 ft). Flight tests showed it was seriously underpowered, which made it useless as a… more…
Aviation history
What was unusual about the AEG B.I?
The AEG B.I, an unarmed two-seat reconnaissance biplane, broke with convention in its construction: a main structure of welded steel tubing, wings with two… more…
Military aviation
What did the Hurricane "Hurricat" achieve?
There were eight combat launches from CAM ships, destroying eight German aircraft — three Fw 200 Condors, four He 111s and one Ju 88 — with one damaged and… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How much does the rafale cost?
A Rafale costs roughly €75–90 million flyaway for France, but export contracts run to €200–250 million per aircraft once weapons, spares, training and support… more…
Military aviation
What did Kelly Johnson say after the 1967 Kinmen air battle?
Kelly Johnson, the F-104's designer, said the engagement illustrated the Starfighter's strengths and weaknesses: "We out-accelerated them, and we… more…
Records and curiosities
Did you know the Avro 558 flew with a motorcycle engine?
Yes: two Avro 558s were built, both biplanes powered by motorcycle engines. One carried an air-cooled twin-cylinder B&H and the other a 500cc Douglas. The… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which was the first VC-121A with weather radar?
The "Bataan", serial number 48-613. Delivered as a C-121A in January 1949, it took part in the Berlin Airlift and in 1950 was converted into a VC-121A for VIP… more…
Aviation history
What does "Jug" mean?
"Jug" was the nickname given to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and it came from its profile resembling a common milk jug of the era. Ground crews associated… more…
Aviation history
What innovation did the Corsair's landing gear bring to the US Navy?
It was the first US Navy aircraft with landing gear that retracted into a fully enclosed wheel well. Each oleo-pneumatic strut rotated 90° on retraction, with… more…
Commercial aviation
How many buttons does an airplane cockpit have?
There is no fixed figure, and no manufacturer publishes an official count. An analog jet like the classic Boeing 747 spread several hundred switches, dials… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did the Australian and Breitling Swiss Super Constellations have in common?
They rolled off the factory line side by side: the Australian HARS aircraft, VH-EAG, is construction number 4176, and the Breitling aircraft is number 4177… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft replaced the Canadian Argus?
The Lockheed CP-140 Aurora. The Argus flew its last operational mission on 24 July 1981, and the Aurora was acquired in the early 1980s to replace it and… more…
Military aviation
What proportion of the fighter pilots aboard British carriers off Japan in 1945 were New Zealanders?
Towards the end of the war, around 50% of the aircrews in the Fleet Air Arm's carrier-based fighter squadrons were New Zealanders. New Zealand supplied more… more…
Danie van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How long did it take a Lightning to climb to 12,195 m?
The documented climb figure is 36,000 ft (11,000 m), not 12,195 m: the Lightning reached it in under three minutes. Its optimum climb profile required reheat… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many victories did Richard Bong, the greatest American ace of World War II, achieve, and in which aircraft?
Richard "Dick" Bong achieved 40 victories, all of them flying a P-38 Lightning, which made him the top-scoring American ace of World War II. He was followed… more…
Aviation history
Did you know Polish and Czech squadrons fought in the Battle of Britain?
Yes: No. 303 Squadron, formed in July 1940 at Blackpool, ranked first among the battle's 66 Allied fighter squadrons with 75 confirmed victories. No. 310… more…
Aviation history
What was the Budd Conestoga made of?
Mainly stainless steel: fearing a potential aluminum shortage, the War Department sought alternative materials, and Budd, a railcar maker in that metal and… more…
Aviation history
Which fighter replaced the Arado Ar 65E?
The Heinkel He 51: from 1935 it replaced the Arado Ar 65 as a front-line fighter. The He 51 had been designed to replace the Ar 65 and served alongside the… more…
Military aviation
Why did the Canberra carry no defensive armament?
Because the requirement demanded it: the Air Ministry's 1944 specification to succeed the Mosquito, in its initial E.3/45 revision, called for a fast… more…
Aviation history
Who produced the biggest explosions of the Vietnam War?
The giant conventional bombs dropped from C-130 transports under the Commando Vault program: the 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) BLU-82B, with 12,600 lb (5,700 kg) of… more…
Foto: Adrian Pingstone (dominio público)
Commercial aviation
How many Airbus A380s are there?
Airbus built 251 A380s between 2005 and 2021; the last one was delivered to Emirates in December 2021. Around 200 remain in service today, with the rest… more…
HawkeyeUK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the first British tandem-rotor helicopter?
The Bristol Type 173, a twin-engined British transport helicopter with tandem rotors built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, made its first hovering flight on… more…
Military aviation
How many victories did Werner Voss achieve in 24 days with the triplane?
Twenty confirmed kills in just 24 days flying the Fokker Dr.1. By 11 September 1917 Werner Voss had raised his total to 47 victories, second only to the Red… more…
Aviation history
How many F-16s did Iran order?
One hundred and sixty: Iran signed a letter of offer and acceptance for the sale of 160 F-16s, after making the firm decision to buy and the Shah signing a… more…
Aviation history
What engine did the F-15 and F-16 share?
The Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan: one of the YF-16's advantages over the YF-17 was precisely that it used the same powerplant as the F-15, and that… more…
Foto: Adrian Pingstone (dominio público)
Commercial aviation
What does the airbus a380 weigh?
The A380-800 is certified to a maximum take-off weight of 575 tonnes (1,268,000 lb), the highest of any airliner. Empty it weighs about 277 tonnes, and it may… more…
Military aviation
What designation did the F-104 receive in the Spanish Air Force?
The 21 Spanish Starfighters received the classification identity C.8 and CE.8. They came from the Military Assistance Program: 18 F-104Gs built by Canadair… more…
Steve Knight from Halstead, United Kingdom (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Who has the most expensive private jet in the world?
The most expensive comes from the commercial catalog: the Airbus A350-900, the airframe behind the ACJ350, was listed at $317.4 million in Airbus's last… more…
Eric Friedebach (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Why are commercial flights safer than private?
Because they are two different systems, not two kinds of flying. General aviation in the United States runs at roughly 0.9 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight… more…
Just a Man (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Which country was the Bell 212 originally designed for?
Canada. The Bell 212 grew out of the UH-1N, which emerged from 1968 negotiations between the Canadian Forces and Bell Helicopter over a new utility… more…
Aviation history
How many Phoenixes did an F-14 fire in a test salvo?
Six: on November 21, 1973, in the trial known as six-on-six, an F-14 launched six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles within 38 seconds. The first Phoenix was fired at 31… more…
Diego Dabrio at en.wikipedia (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which Spanish helicopter had no tail rotor?
The Aerotécnica AC-13A: that's how the Madrid firm redesignated the two Nord 1750 Norelfe whose design rights it bought. The aircraft had a single main rotor… more…
OTFW, Berlin (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Where does the name Carvair come from?
From the English "car-via-air": that is how the new aircraft Aviation Traders obtained by modifying the Douglas DC-4 was christened. The conversion's… more…
Jun Jie Yam (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What happens if a flight is delayed?
A delay triggers two separate mechanisms: the operational one, in which the airline reshuffles aircraft, crews and ground slots, and the legal one, which in… more…
AVA Navigate (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How big is the Boeing 737 MAX 10?
The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is 43.8 m (143 ft 8 in) long, has a wingspan of 35.9 m (117 ft 10 in) and stands 12.3 m (40 ft 4 in) tall. It is the longest 737 ever… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which American fighter was in large-scale production throughout US participation in World War II?
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning. It was the only American fighter in large-scale production throughout US participation in World War II, from the attack on Pearl… more…
Alan Wilson from Weston, Spalding, Lincs, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How did the AC-47 get its nickname?
It had two names: the nickname "Puff, the Magic Dragon", taken from a popular song by the trio Peter, Paul and Mary, and the radio call sign "Spooky". The… more…
ZemplinTemplar (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why did Italy take so long to accept the Ansaldo A.1 and leave the front line to the SPAD in 1917?
In 1917 there was no clear-cut preference: the first A.1 prototype was not accepted by the Corpo Aeronautico Militare until December of that year, because the… more…
Aviation history
Where did the F.K.26 pilot sit?
The pilot of the BAT F.K.26 did not travel with the passengers: he sat in an open cockpit located above and behind the enclosed cabin occupied by the four… more…
Military aviation
What did Specification B.14/46, which gave rise to the V bombers, call for?
There's a mistake in the premise: the Vulcan did not come from B.14/46, but from Specification B.35/46 of January 1947, which called for carrying a 10,000 lb… more…
emmett anderson (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Anderson Kingfishers were under construction around 1982?
The figure on record is from 1978, not 1982: by then 200 kit sets had been sold and 100 Kingfishers were reported under construction. The EA-1 Kingfisher is a… more…
Military aviation
How many victories did René Fonck achieve?
René Fonck was credited with 75 confirmed victories, 72 solo and three shared, out of 142 claimed. He still holds the title of "top-scoring Allied ace of all… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How were the Hs 123s supplied in Poland?
By air, with Junkers Ju 52/3m transports. During the 1939 Polish campaign, the ground-attack group II.(Schlacht)/LG 2, equipped with Henschel Hs 123A-1… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Eurofighters does Spain have?
Spain has around 70 Eurofighter Typhoons in service (as of September 2026), from the 73 delivered between 2003 and 2020, and has ordered 45 more Tranche 4… more…
Aviation history
How many M.B.326s did Alitalia buy?
Four. Alitalia ordered four MB-326s in trainer configuration, designated the "D" version, expressly demilitarized and fitted with specialized instrumentation… more…
No machine-readable author provided. Grimmi~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Why wasn't the excellent Avro 530 put into production?
Its performance proved good, but not enough of an improvement over the Bristol F.2A's, so no production order was placed. On top of that, priority for the… more…
James St. John (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Which British bomber did the USAF adopt as the B-57?
The English Electric Canberra: after a competition against rivals such as the Martin XB-51, the USAF decided to order 403 units, built under licence by the… more…
Aviation history
What ended the Aerocar?
A lack of orders: the deal with Ling-Temco-Vought for mass production required 500 orders, and Taylor gathered only half that number, so the production plans… more…
Military aviation
How fast do military drones fly?
There's no single speed: military drones range from 50-70 km/h for a reconnaissance quadcopter to 570 km/h (310 kn) for the RQ-4 Global Hawk. The MQ-9 Reaper… more…
James St. John (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
What mountain range could the Barling bomber not cross?
Not a single peak but a range: on a flight from Dayton, Ohio, toward an air show scheduled in Washington, D.C., the Barling bomber failed to gain enough… more…
Military aviation
Why was the 1943 Bf 109G a step backward from the F model?
The G wasn't a step back in every way: it was built around the DB 605, heavier than earlier engines but the same size, resulting in a fighter heavier than the… more…
Aviation history
How did an Arado Ar 232 end up in Britain?
Captured: two Ar 232 B-0s fell into British hands toward the end of the war. The Royal Air Force then used them for a time on flights between England and… more…
Commercial aviation
Who owns Boeing?
Boeing has no single owner: it is a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BA, with its capital spread among thousands of retail and… more…
Military aviation
How did the British solve the problem of landing the Corsair on carriers?
The Corsair was dangerous to land because the set-back cockpit and long nose blocked the deck from view, the gear bounced and the left wing stalled without… more…
Armes Automatique Lewis; Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many rounds did the D.H.2's drum hold?
Ninety-seven, in the gun's aeronautical use: the aircraft-mounted Lewis employed self-contained 97-round drums. The Lewis's pan magazine could hold either 47… more…
Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
How do supersonic planes work?
A supersonic aircraft is built to live with shock waves. Thin, sharply swept or delta wings and a slender fuselage keep wave drag low; intakes with movable… more…
Aviation history
When did the Breguet 763 Provence enter service?
In March 1953, with Air France: on the 10th or the 16th of that month, depending on the source. It had first flown on 20 July 1951; its inaugural route was… more…
Aviation history
What did the Arado Ar 234 do with its wheels on takeoff?
It dropped them: the early Ar 234s took off on a disposable trolley arranged as a tricycle landing gear and landed on three retractable skids. Arado gave up… more…
Brendan and Ruth McCartney (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Why did the Concorde stop flying?
The Concorde stopped flying in 2003 due to a combination of factors: Air France's crash in Paris (July 2000), the collapse of premium transatlantic travel… more…
Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
What are supersonic planes?
Supersonic planes are aircraft that fly faster than the speed of sound, above Mach 1, about 1,060 km/h (573 kn) at cruise altitude. Most are military… more…
Commercial aviation
Can you leave the airport during a layover?
Yes, you can leave the airport during a layover if three conditions are met: enough time (at least four or five hours), permission to enter that country (a… more…
Lars Söderström (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What rare engine did the Britannia prototype end up carrying?
The G-ALBO prototype ended its life as an engine test bed: it was used for the development trials of the Bristol Orion in 1956 and the Proteus 765 in 1957… more…
Aviation history
What did Operation "Jericho" achieve?
Breaching Amiens Prison: of the 832 inmates, 255 men escaped, though 182 were recaptured shortly afterwards, and the bombing caused 102 deaths. The 18… more…
Records and curiosities
Which aircraft broke the world absolute speed record at 448 km/h in 1924?
The Bernard SIMB V.2, a French single-seat, single-engine monoplane built in the mid-1920s. In a second attempt, on 11 December 1924, it averaged 448 km/h… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Who originally proposed the aircraft that became the Airbus A318?
It wasn't a single company's proposal: the A318 grew out of mid-1990s studies between AVIC, Singapore Technologies Aerospace, Alenia and Airbus on a… more…
OTFW, Berlin (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What was the first post-war British civil transport?
There was no single "first": the Bristol 170 Freighter is among the first new commercial aircraft to fly in the United Kingdom after the Second World War. Its… more…
Military aviation
What advantage did the Bf 109E's Bosch fuel injection pump give it?
Fuel injection in the DB 601: unlike the gravity-fed carburettor engines of the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane, which cut out under negative g, the… more…
Airwolfhound (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which aircraft shaped the Spitfire's design?
Its design stems from the racing seaplanes that R. J. Mitchell and his team built for the Schneider Trophy, including the Supermarine S.5 and the S.6B, winner… more…
Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Oxfords were built?
A total of 8,751 Oxfords were completed. Airspeed built 4,411 at Portsmouth and a further 550 at its shadow factory in Christchurch; de Havilland delivered… more…
Aviation history
Which British aircraft sank the first major warship by dive bombing?
The Blackburn Skua, a two-seat carrier aircraft built by the British company Blackburn Aircraft. On 10 April 1940, sixteen Skuas from 800 and 803 NAS attacked… more…
Military aviation
Why did German Bf 109 aces rack up far more victories than Allied pilots?
American pilots rotated home, usually after 25 to 50 missions. The Luftwaffe had no equivalent policy, and its pilots flew until Germany surrendered. Erich… more…
Aviation history
On which workshops was Arado built?
Arado Flugzeugwerke was built on the Warnemünde plant that the firm Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen had there. Heinrich Lübbe bought the plant in 1921 and the… more…
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Aviation history
Where were NATO's 18 E-3A AWACS based?
At NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany: that's where the first of the 18 E-3A AWACS was received and where NATO E-3 Component squadrons 1, 2 and 3 were… more…
Aviation history
What does "Sea Stallion" mean?
"Sea Stallion" was the military title given to Sikorsky's S-65A when it was chosen as the Marine Corps' heavy assault transport, with the designation CH-53A… more…
Physics of flight
How does a plane fly?
A plane flies by using engine thrust to move its wings through the air fast enough to generate lift greater than or equal to its weight. The wing's shape and… more…
Aviation history
At what altitude did the weather-research An-4 biplane fly?
Up to 10,000 m: the An-4 — the design-bureau designation for the meteorological An-2ZA, intended for high-altitude weather research — could maintain power up… more…
Aviation history
Which Navy helicopter could hunt mines and detonate them?
The Sikorsky RH-53D Sea Stallion, the airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) variant of the CH-53D. It carried mine-sweeping equipment and two 0.50 BMG (12.7… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
What was the Ju 52's "Doppelflügel"?
It was the name given to the narrow control surface that ran along the entire trailing edge of the Ju 52's wing, set apart from it. Its inboard section acted… more…
Aviation history
How many AT-10s did Globe Aircraft build in addition to Beech?
Globe Aircraft Corporation built another 600 AT-10s. Beechcraft, for its part, ended production in 1943 after delivering 1,771 aircraft. Deliveries to the… more…
Djm-leighpark (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How long does it take to become a cabin crew member?
It's not a university degree: becoming a cabin crew member only requires passing the initial training course mandated by European regulations, lasting four to… more…
Dietmar Rabich (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
In how many countries did the Islander fly?
More than 120: in 2016 Britten-Norman stated that the Islander was in daily service with around 500 operators in more than 120 countries (2016 figure)… more…
Aviation history
Did Charles Lindbergh see combat in World War II?
Yes, though never as a serviceman: he was rejected for active duty because Roosevelt refused to restore his colonel's rank. As a civilian adviser he flew 50… more…
Aviation history
At what minimum speed was the S.S.3 canard controllable?
The SS.3 Anitra's stall speed was 34 mph (55 km/h). Its top speed, with a 16 hp (12 kW) engine, was 87 mph (140 km/h). It first flew on 2 October 1937 and was… more…
"Avro Vulcan V2 08" by Ronnie Macdonald is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.
Physics of flight
Why did the Vulcan 'howl' at air shows?
Because of the layout of its air intakes. At around 90% power, the Vulcan's engines produced a distinctive howling noise caused by the shape of the intakes… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft sank the cruiser Königsberg?
Sixteen Blackburn Skua dive bombers of the British Fleet Air Arm, from 800 and 803 Naval Air Squadrons, which took off from RNAS Hatston, in Orkney. They… more…
Aviation history
When did Giovanni Agusta build his first airplane?
In 1907: that year Giovanni Agusta designed and built a biplane called Ag1, which he began assembling in a small workshop in Capua. Tests were conducted on… more…
UnknownUnknown (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the Bv 40?
A prototype German armoured glider, initially designed in mid-1943. It was conceived by Richard Vogt, chief designer and technical director of Blohm & Voss… more…
David Stowell (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What distinguishes the B.A.T. F.K.26 in the history of air transport?
That it is considered the world's first airliner. All other passenger aircraft of that era were converted military aircraft, whereas the F.K.26 was the first… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many British Chinooks survived the sinking of the Atlantic Conveyor?
Only one. On 25 May 1982, an Exocet fired from an Argentine Super Étendard struck the Atlantic Conveyor and destroyed three of the four British Chinooks… more…
RuthAS (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Why did the York have a third fin?
For stability: on the York, the larger side area of the fuselage forward of the wing compared with the Lancaster made it necessary to fit a third central fin… more…
Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
Why do planes retract their landing gear?
Planes retract their landing gear to cut aerodynamic drag: wheels, legs and shock absorbers exposed to the airflow slow the aircraft and force it to burn more… more…
Aviation history
What did the USAF do with the G.91R/1?
The USAF evaluated ten G.91R/1s in 1961-1962 with a view to a possible purchase. Earlier, in early 1961, four G.91s had arrived in the US for Army trials in… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
What is airplane fuel called?
The fuel used in jet and turboprop aircraft is aviation kerosene, sold as Jet A-1 in most of the world and Jet A in the United States. Light piston-engine… more…
Aviation history
What was the Antonov N-2?
It was the air ambulance version of the Antonov OKA-38, able to carry two stretchers plus a medic; the other planned version, the SS, was a three-seat liaison… more…
No machine-readable author provided. Arcimboldo assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Why was Narvik the best port for shipping ore?
Because it was open to ore shipments all year round, well above the Arctic Circle. German industry depended on ore from the mines of Swedish Lapland, and most… more…
Aviation history
What happened to the six RF-4Es ordered by Iran?
Iran did not order six RF-4Es, but 27. The RF-4E was an unarmed reconnaissance version of the Phantom built strictly for export. Iran received 16: the first… more…
Aviation history
How many American DH-4s saw combat?
Of the 9,500 D.H.4s ordered from American manufacturers, only 1,885 actually reached France during the war. A total of 6,295 aircraft were built, 4,846 of… more…
Commercial aviation
How much does a flight from Spain to the United States cost?
There's no fixed price: a round-trip economy ticket between Spain and the United States usually runs between 400 and 900 euros, with low season below that… more…
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Aviation history
What is "Ninak"?
"Ninak" was the nickname of the Airco D.H.9A: it comes from reading the designation "nine-A" using the phonetic alphabet. Used affectionately, it named the… more…
Kilyann Le Hen (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What were "cab ranks"?
A close air support procedure: fighter-bombers were held available from "cab ranks," orbiting holding points near the forward edge of the battle area… more…
RuthAS (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Vulcans were converted for maritime reconnaissance?
Nine. In the mid-1970s, nine Vulcan B.2s were adapted for radar maritime reconnaissance missions and redesignated B.2 (MRR). They were operated by No. 27… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Safety and accidents
Why did the Hudson A320 carry life vests and rafts even though its route didn't require them?
Because that specific aircraft was certified for extended overwater operations, so it carried extra vests, rafts, and slide-rafts, even though FAA rules… more…
Aviation history
What cannon did the SPAD S.XII carry?
A 37 mm Semi Automatique Moteur Canon (SAMC) built by Puteaux, carrying 12 rounds, rather than the old Hotchkiss cannon. The Hispano-Suiza aero engine had to… more…
Yesica acosta (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
Why does an airplane fly?
An airplane flies because its wings turn the oncoming airflow downward, and the air pushes back with an upward force called lift. The wing's shape and angle… more…
Aviation history
What was Combat Skyspot?
It was the USAF's ground-directed bombing operation in the Vietnam War, using Bomb Directing Centrals, and the Marine Corps' equivalent with Course Directing… more…
Hoffmann (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the heaviest aircraft in the world in 1945?
The Blohm & Voss BV 238, a large six-engine flying boat, was the heaviest aircraft ever built when it first flew, in 1944, and the largest produced by any… more…
Military aviation
How much did BOAC improve the cruising speed of its unarmed Sunderlands?
It was a significant improvement, achieved with only minor tweaks: the angles of the engines and the aircraft's flight angle were slightly modified — a… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What was the NC-121D "Tripple Nipple"?
It was a US Navy WV-2 Warning Star, the flying radar derived from the Super Constellation, converted to observe objects moving at high speed through the… more…
Aviation history
What aircraft did Shackleton bring on his 1921 expedition?
The Shackleton–Rowett expedition brought a modified Avro Baby converted into a seaplane, with an 80 horsepower engine, and hired Royal Air Force pilot… more…
Physics of flight
How high could the F-104G climb in ballistic flight?
In the late 1960s, pilots from 322 or 323 Squadron at Leeuwarden flew zoom climbs above 70,000 ft in the F-104G. On 8 November 1967 Captain Henk Krauss set a… more…
Military aviation
How much lift did Gouge's patented flaps add to the Sunderland on landing?
30% more. Gouge's patented flaps slid backward along curved tracks and lowered as they moved, increasing wing area and generating 30% more lift for landing… more…
Commercial aviation
What was "Puff, the Magic Dragon"?
It was the nickname of the Douglas AC-47 Spooky, the first in a series of fixed-wing gunships developed by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War… more…
Military aviation
What did Birkigt invent for the SPAD S.VII besides the engine?
A synchronisation gear: when the SPAD S.VII entered service in September 1916, it was armed with a single Vickers synchronised by a new mechanism Birkigt… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How could you tell an Air Force C-121C from a Navy R7V-1 at a glance?
By the cabin windows: the Air Force's C-121C had square ones, while the Navy's R7V-1 kept the round ones. Otherwise, both military transport Super… more…
Boevaya mashina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the only air-to-air weapon with a nuclear warhead?
Douglas's AIR-2 Genie (formerly MB-1) was an unguided air-to-air rocket with a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead. The USAF deployed it from 1957 to 1985, and Canada… more…
Ross (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
At what speed does a Boeing 737 land?
A Boeing 737 lands at around 130-145 knots (240-270 km/h) indicated airspeed, with flaps 30 or 40 and gear down. The exact figure, the VREF reference speed… more…
Aviation history
Was the Albatros W.4 a floatplane version of the D.I?
Not quite: the W.4 derived from the Albatros D.I landplane fighter and used its fuselage as a starting point, but it received a new wing and tail of greater… more…
Physics of flight
Why is the sound barrier?
There is no physical wall in the air: the sound barrier is the sharp rise in drag and loss of control that early aircraft met near Mach 1, when shock waves… more…
Pilz (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the Luftwaffe's main weapon in Norway: Stukas or fighters?
Neither: the most numerous type was bombers, 233 against 102 fighters. Dive bombers numbered only 39, and there were also 165 reconnaissance aircraft… more…
Pedro Argao (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What kind of runway does the C-212 need?
The C-212 Aviocar doesn't need a paved runway: it's a turboprop STOL medium transport designed to operate from unpaved airstrips and in hot-and-high… more…
Aviation history
What does "Knickebein" mean?
Knickebein means "bent leg": the system's code name came from the shape of its antennas. The British called the beams Headache and built transmitters named… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft replaced the Tornado in No. 617 "Dambuster" Squadron?
The Lightning. No. 617 Squadron was disbanded on 28 March 2014 as part of the Tornado drawdown and reformed on 18 April 2018. On 6 June 2018, four of the… more…
Aviation history
What was the first delta wing produced by MiG's OKB?
The Ye-4, the first prototype with the delta wing later carried by the MiG-21's production variants. It first flew on June 16, 1955. Earlier prototypes — the… more…
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Physics of flight
What happens if I put airplane fuel in my car?
Jet fuel (Jet A-1) is kerosene, not gasoline. In a gasoline engine it won't start properly or it runs with knocking, smoke and power loss, and can damage the… more…
Military aviation
How high do fighter jets fly?
Fighter jets operate almost always between 9,000 and 12,000 m (30,000-40,000 ft), like airliners, and climb to their service ceiling for interception: above… more…
Aviation history
What was the "Big Belly" modification?
It was a modification of the B-52D begun in late 1965 to increase its bomb capacity for carpet bombing. Internal load rose from 27 to 84 bombs of 500 lb (230… more…
Dhaluza at English Wikipedia (CC BY), vía commons
Physics of flight
Why do planes use knots?
Aviation uses knots because a knot is one nautical mile per hour, and a nautical mile equals one minute of latitude on a chart. That link between speed… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Luftwaffe pilots achieved five or more P-38 kills?
Twenty-three. That is the number of Luftwaffe pilots who achieved five or more P-38 kills. The Germans feared its firepower and nicknamed it… more…
Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why was the MiG-25 designed?
As a high-altitude interceptor: in the late 1950s, Lockheed U-2 flights over Soviet territory revealed the need for an interceptor able to fly higher. Fast… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft received U.S. type certificate No. 1?
The Buhl-Verville CA-3 Airster, a 1926 U.S. utility aircraft also known as the J4 Airster after its engine, was the first aircraft to receive a type… more…
Aviation history
From what distance did a Phoenix missile down a target at 15 m altitude?
From 110 nmi (200 km): that was the longest successful single Phoenix launch, in April 1973, when an F-14 fired against a BQM-34E at 110 NM. The target was… more…
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Commercial aviation
How much do airlines charge for excess baggage?
There's no single fee or common range: each airline publishes its own table, and amounts can only be verified one by one. easyJet charges £12 per kilo of… more…
RB7MRV (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How was the C-101 camouflaged at Farnborough?
With a camouflage scheme closer to a Saab Viggen's than to a Spanish Air Force aircraft's: at Farnborough the Aviojet appeared dressed "the Swedish way." The… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Safety and accidents
Could Flight 1549's A320 have made it back to LaGuardia?
Only in the simulator: tests showed it could return to LaGuardia if it turned toward the airport right after the bird strike. Even so, only seven of thirteen… more…
Aviation history
What caused the Luftwaffe to switch its target to London in 1940?
A British attack on Berlin enraged Hitler, who ordered the Luftwaffe to turn against London. He ruled out a land invasion as unrealistic and chose terror as a… more…
Danie van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Why does the Lightning have two engines stacked one above the other?
To reconcile three conflicting demands: minimising the frontal cross-section, giving the engines an undisturbed airflow across a wide speed range, and housing… more…
OTFW, Berlin (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Was a C-47 converted into a glider?
Yes: the Douglas XCG-17 was an assault glider created by converting a twin-engine C-47 Skytrain during World War II. Its engines were removed and the nacelles… more…
Foto: USAF, TSgt. Gary Tomoyasu (dominio público)
Military aviation
What is the MiG-29?
The MiG-29 is a twin-engine air-superiority fighter designed by the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau to counter the American F-16 and F-15. It first flew on 6… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which boxing champion died in an Air France Constellation?
Marcel Cerdan, former world middleweight champion. He died on 28 October 1949 on Air France Flight 009, an L-749 flying from Paris-Orly to New York, which… more…
Aviation history
Where were the Mexican Quails assembled?
In Pasteje, home of the Aeronáutica Agrícola Mexicana SA (AAMSA) plant, established in 1971 as a joint venture between Rockwell International (30%) and… more…
Aviation history
How long did the M.B.220 take from Paris to London in 1938?
One hour and fifteen minutes: on 27 March 1938 the Bloch MB.220 was introduced on the route between Le Bourget and Croydon, south of London, replacing the… more…
Kentaro Iemoto from Tokyo, Japan (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What happens if airports lose power?
It doesn't shut down: airports are critical facilities with diesel generators and uninterruptible power systems. International regulations require… more…
Aviation history
Why was the D.V's headrest removed?
Because it interfered with the pilot's field of view: early D.Vs carried a large headrest that was almost always removed in service. The model entered service… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which Antarctic airstrip is named after a Constellation?
Pegasus Field, near McMurdo Station on Ross Island. It is named after a US Navy Lockheed C-121J Constellation that made a forced landing there during a… more…
RoyDickson (CC BY), vía commons
Records and curiosities
How long did a Bellanca Pacemaker fly without refueling in 1931?
84 hours and 32 minutes: on May 28, 1931, a Bellanca CH-300 with a diesel Packard DR-980 engine, flown by Walter Edwin Lees and Frederic Brossy, stayed… more…
Klinke & Co. (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which aircraft was the Luftwaffe's last frontline biplane fighter?
The Arado Ar 68, the last biplane fighter to serve in the front line with the Luftwaffe. It entered service in early 1936 and the monoplane Bf 109 relegated… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
When did the Rafale come out?
The Rafale is already in service: the Rafale A demonstrator flew on 4 July 1986, the first production prototype C01 on 19 May 1991, and the French Navy… more…
kenhodge13 (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Airtrainers did Australia buy?
The RAAF ended up with 51 CT/4s: first 37 CT-4As from the initial production run, serials A19-027 to A19-063, and in 1981 another 14 that had been built for… more…
Owen Rushby (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Did you know at what distance the Chain Home radar could detect aircraft?
The figure is not 193 km: Chain Home's range was 100 miles (160 km), which its experimental system had already exceeded in early 1936. With that margin, the… more…
Aviation history
What was the first aircraft to cross the North Sea?
The first aircraft to cross the North Sea was an Avro 501, which flew from Wilhelmshaven to Heligoland in September 1913. The type also had a German career… more…
Aviation history
Which Navy aircraft gave rise to the B-66 Destroyer?
The B-66 Destroyer derived from the A-3 Skywarrior, the US Navy's heavy carrier-based attack aircraft. The USAF wanted it as a simple land-based adaptation… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What is the world's longest flight?
The world's longest regularly scheduled commercial flight is Singapore Airlines' nonstop route between Singapore and New York (JFK), flown with an Airbus… more…
Commercial aviation
What are an airplane's cockpit and cabin like?
An airplane has two cabins. The cockpit is a two-seat station with six displays (flight, navigation, engines and systems), a center pedestal with throttles… more…
Military aviation
Which Skyhawk carried British 30 mm cannons?
The A-4Ss and TA-4Ss rebuilt for the RSAF of Singapore, which began acquiring A-4s in 1973: they were armed with 30 mm (1.18 in) ADEN cannons instead of the… more…
Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many passengers did the Tudor 1 carry, despite being larger than the York?
Twelve passengers. The Tudor I was intended for the North Atlantic route, and the United States already had the Douglas DC-4 and the Lockheed Constellation… more…
Aviation history
Why was the Corsair called "Whistling Death"?
Because of the whistle produced by its own aerodynamics: the turbosupercharger, intercooler, and oil cooler intakes sat in slots on the inner wing leading… more…
Aviation history
Which G222 fought fires?
The firefighter was the G.222SAA, from Sistema Aeronautico Antincendio: it was equipped to drop water or chemical retardants, and four were built for the… more…
Aviation history
How long were the Aichi E13A's longest patrols?
The figure on record is the aircraft's range: up to 15 hours of endurance. The E13A normally flew its intended role as a reconnaissance aircraft, though it… more…
Aviation history
How many wheels did the Barling XNBL-1's landing gear have?
Ten: the XNBL-1's landing gear had 10 wheels, two of them mounted toward the front of the aircraft to keep it from nosing over on takeoff, plus a tailskid… more…
Nicofox767 (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
Why do jet engines have a spiral?
The spiral painted on a jet engine's spinner is a safety marking. When the fan is turning, the spiral blurs into a visible, pulsing pattern that warns ground… more…
Military aviation
What anti-ship missiles did German Navy F-104s carry?
The naval variant first used AS.30 command-guided missiles and later the AS.34 Kormoran, a more sophisticated, longer-range, radar-guided weapon enabling… more…
Aviation history
How many years did it take the Fox to reach Belgium after flying for the RAF?
The Fairey Fox entered RAF service with No. 12 Squadron in June 1926, and the first Fox IIs entered service with the Belgian Air Force in early 1932, as… more…
Aviation history
How did the operator guide the Bullpup missile?
Visually and with a stick: the pilot or weapons operator tracked the Bullpup by watching its flares and steered it toward the target with a joystick that sent… more…
Aviation history
What happened in the Czech Aero Club race of 1923?
In June 1923, five Aero A.18s contested the Czech Aero Club's first speed race, for the president's trophy. Josef Novák, Aero's chief pilot, won at 230 km/h… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Safety and accidents
What is the "pickle fork" that cracked on some Boeing 737 NGs?
It's the main structural member joining the fuselage and the wings. There are four per aircraft, one on each side of the forward and rear attachment frames… more…
Richard Opitz (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
At what altitude did the Ju 87 recover automatically?
About 450 m (1,480 ft): that was the usual minimum height at which the contact altimeter's light marked the bomb release point, and on release the Ju 87… more…
"Juanda Airport Apron" by This photo was taken with Casio Exilim EX-Z110 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
Physics of flight
What fuel do planes use?
Jet and turboprop aircraft burn aviation kerosene — Jet A-1 almost everywhere, Jet A in the United States; the military use variants such as JP-8. Light… more…
Bahnfrend (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How many Boeing 737 MAX planes have crashed?
Two 737 MAXs have crashed: Lion Air Flight 610 on October 29, 2018 in Indonesia (189 dead), and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019 (157 dead)… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Safety and accidents
How many accidents did the FAA privately forecast over the 737 MAX's MCAS system?
Fifteen more fatal accidents. After the first 737 MAX accident, federal safety officials estimated 15 more fatal accidents involving the model over the… more…
Aviation history
What new features did the Albatros C.X have for high-altitude flight?
A new wing, a more powerful engine and oxygen gear: the new wing design aimed, together with that relatively powerful engine, to reach the greatest possible… more…
Aviation history
How many projects competed in France before the Caravelle?
Twenty: the Comité du matériel civil received 20 different designs after its medium-range specification of 12 October 1951. On 28 March 1952 the shortlist… more…
Foto: 4300streetcar (CC BY 4.0)
Commercial aviation
Which 747 carried Enterprise "piggyback"?
The first Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was a Boeing 747-123 registered N905NA, originally built for American Airlines and acquired by NASA in 1974. Boeing… more…
Aviation history
How many Magisters were built?
868 in total: 576 built by Air Fouga, 194 by Heinkel-Messerschmitt, 36 by IAI and 62 by Valmet. French production ended in 1962, and the aircraft continued to… more…
Physics of flight
How far is the sound barrier?
The sound barrier is not a distance but a speed: Mach 1, the local speed of sound, about 1,225 km/h (661 kn) at sea level and 1,062 km/h at 11 km. Airliners… more…
Baier (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How did the Natter pilot escape after attacking?
By separating from the aircraft: after the attack the pilot descended to about 3,000 m (10,000 ft), leveled off, and released the nose along with a small… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which Navy Constellation disappeared without a trace in 1958 during a radar patrol?
A US Navy WV-2, serial number 141310. On 20 February 1958 it disappeared during a radar patrol west of Corvo Island (Azores), en route from Naval Air Station… more…
Military aviation
What was the C-69B Constellation designed for?
To carry troops over long range and, specifically, to transport engines for the B-29 Superfortress bomber to China. Lockheed assigned it the internal… more…
Aviation history
How many combat aircraft did the Luftwaffe have in August 1939?
In the summer of 1939 the Luftwaffe fielded 4,201 operational aircraft: 1,191 bombers, 361 dive bombers, 788 fighters, 431 heavy fighters and 488 transports… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which aircraft served as Igloo White's relay?
Igloo White's initial relay was the EC-121R Warning Star, which received and retransmitted sensor signals. It flew with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing from the… more…
HawkeyeUK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What material were the Puma's blades made of from 1976?
Composite material: the main rotor blades switched to it on the improved SA.330H and SA.330J variants, an evolution from earlier designs. The composite blades… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What is the most expensive aircraft in its class in the A320neo family?
The most expensive in the family is the A321neo, the stretched version: list price of $129.5 million, versus $110.6 million for the A320neo and $101.5 million… more…
Aviation history
How many Bonanzas had been delivered by the end of 1947?
Beech built more than 1,000 Bonanzas in 1947. The Model 35 had received its airworthiness certificate on 25 March 1947, and production began that same year… more…
Aviation history
Why did a large carrier bomber like the B7A operate from land?
Because by the time it entered production, the Japanese Navy had already lost its aircraft carriers, so its service was limited and land-based. The B7A was… more…
BrokenSphere (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What happens if an airplane cabin depressurizes?
Oxygen masks drop automatically and the pilots begin an emergency descent to about 3,000 m (10,000 ft), where breathing without assistance is possible. The… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Records and curiosities
What New York-to-Washington record does a Constellation still hold?
The record for the fastest flight between New York and Washington: an Eastern Air Lines Constellation covered the route in just over 30 minutes, from takeoff… more…
Records and curiosities
How fast does NASA's X-43 fly?
The uncrewed X-43A reached Mach 9.6 on November 16, 2004—nearly ten times the speed of sound, a record still standing for an air-breathing aircraft. But it no… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How much cargo did Bolivia's Ju 52s carry to the front during the Chaco War?
More than 4,400 tonnes. Bolivia acquired four Ju 52s during the Chaco War (1932-1935) against Paraguay and used them mainly to evacuate the wounded and supply… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did the USSR use captured Ju 52s for after the war?
For civil aviation work. In the USSR, captured Ju 52s were assigned to the Civil Air Fleet and proved especially well suited to carrying sulphur from the… more…
Physics of flight
Why does the sound barrier exist?
The sound barrier exists because pressure disturbances travel through air at the speed of sound. Below Mach 1 the air ahead of an aircraft receives warning… more…
Aviation history
Which RAF aircraft was the first with a two-speed supercharger?
The sources gathered do not confirm that it was the Whitley: what they do credit it with is being the RAF's first aircraft with a semi-monocoque fuselage. The… more…
SFox. Original uploader was SFox at Russian Wikipedia (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Did the L-3 Grasshopper have a glider version?
Yes: the TG-5, a three-seat 1942 training glider based on the O-58 design, which kept the rear fuselage, wings and tail while replacing the engine with a new… more…
Military aviation
What is the most powerful air force in the world?
The world's most powerful air force is that of the United States: the USAF operates more than 5,000 aircraft, and counting the Navy, Marine Corps and Army… more…
curated by Gary Bridgman from Memphis (CC BY), vía commons
Physics of flight
Why is the speed of sound so slow?
Sound is slow because it is a push, not a signal: air molecules must bump into their neighbours to pass the pressure wave along, and they do so at roughly… more…
Military aviation
Why did many veteran pilots prefer the Corsair's six machine guns over cannons?
Because of ammunition and rate of fire. Aviators preferred the six .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns because they offered more advantages than cannons in… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What is an air force?
An air force is the branch of a state's armed forces responsible for warfare in the air: airspace defence, strikes, reconnaissance, transport and… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was Hitler's personal Ju 52 called?
Immelmann II, named after World War I ace Max Immelmann, registered D-2600. Hitler acquired it after becoming chancellor in 1933, with Hans Baur as his… more…
Military aviation
What is an air force?
An air force is the branch of the armed forces responsible for air combat, surveillance and transport. It is organized into commands, wings and squadrons… more…
Aviation history
What was designed first on the P-47?
The powerplant and its air system: Kartveli didn't draw an airframe first and then find an engine for it. He started with the 18-cylinder, turbosupercharged… more…
Aviation history
How much bomb load did the A-6A Intruder carry compared to World War II bombers?
Up to 28 500-pound iron bombs, within a maximum of 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) spread across five hardpoints of 3,600 lb each. That load was greater than that of… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Safety and accidents
What hull-loss rate does each generation of the Boeing 737 have?
The original 737-100/200 series has 1.8 hull losses per million flights. The Classics drop to 0.76 per million and the Next Generation to 0.18. The MAX is the… more…
Aviation history
What success rate does the Phoenix have in US Navy tests?
The known figure comes from a specific trial, the six-on-six: four targets hit and an overall success rate of 80%. The six missiles were launched over a… more…
Military aviation
How many aircraft carriers does the United States have?
The United States has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service (as of September 2026): ten Nimitz-class ships and the USS Gerald R. Ford, lead ship of… more…
Donald Trung Quoc Don (Chữ Hán: 徵國單) - Wikimedia Commons - © CC BY-SA 4.0 International.(Want to use this image?)Original publication 📤: --Donald Trung 『徵國單』 (No Fake News 💬) (WikiProject Numismatics 💴) (Articles 📚) 20:25, 16 January 2021 (UTC) (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many civilians died in Rotterdam?
At least 1,150 people died in the German bombing of Rotterdam, of which 711 correspond solely to the attack of 14 May. Another 85,000 were left homeless. That… more…
Aviation history
Which maharaja ordered an Avro Commodore?
One was sold to the Maharaja of Vizianagram, one of only six Avro 641 Commodores built, including the prototype. It proved unsuitable for conditions in India… more…
Military aviation
How many victories did No. 604 Squadron, the RAF night-fighter squadron, claim?
Around 127 aerial victories over the course of the war, 41 of them since May 1944. No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron RAF spent most of the Second World… more…
Aviation history
Did a Boeing P-26 fly in the Spanish Civil War?
Yes, though not a US Army P-26 but a Model 281, the export version comparable to the P-26C, of which eleven were built for China and one for Spain. Operated… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which P-38 spent 50 years under Greenland's ice before flying again?
Glacier Girl, the oldest surviving P-38 still flying today. It went down on the Greenland ice cap during a ferry flight to the United Kingdom and was… more…
Aviation history
What aircraft could be towed by a car?
It was the Avia BH-12, not the BH-9: this 1924 Czechoslovak two-seat sport aircraft, the final development of the BH-9 family, had a redesigned wing that… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft was the first to use precision guided weapons?
The Dornier Do 217: in 1943 it became the first aircraft to use precision-guided munitions in combat, when its radio-guided Fritz X bombs sank the Italian… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why was a Bristol Boxkite called "12A" instead of 13?
Because 13 was unacceptable to any pilot of the day: two Boxkites of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company were numbered 12A and 14, and both flew from… more…
Foto: 4300streetcar (CC BY 4.0)
Commercial aviation
Why is the boeing 747 being retired?
Mainly economics. Two modern engines burn less fuel than four and, thanks to ETOPS rules, twins like the 777 and 787 may now fly the same long oceanic routes… more…
Aviation history
When did Breda start in aviation?
Breda began building aircraft in 1917. In the early 1920s, already in the civil aviation market, it designed its first military aircraft, the A.3, a night… more…
Military aviation
What brought down almost all the A-6s lost in their first Vietnam deployment?
Over the course of the entire Vietnam War, not just the first deployment, the US Navy and Marine Corps lost 84 A-6s of various series, of which 56 fell to… more…
Foto: Adrian Pingstone (dominio público)
Commercial aviation
How high does the Airbus A380 fly?
The Airbus A380 has an operating ceiling of 13,100 metres (43,000 ft) and on long-haul cruise it normally stays between 10,600 and 12,500 metres, that is… more…
Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did Norwegian aviation have in April 1940?
Mostly biplane equipment, some of it not operational: 11 Gloster Gladiators (7 operational), 25 Fokker C.V-D and 16 C.V-E, 20 M.F.11, 6 Heinkel He 115, 4… more…
Mike LaChance from Crowley, Tx, USA (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Where does the Shackleton's name come from?
After the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. The name came from the influence of Roy Chadwick, Avro's chief designer, who had worked alongside Shackleton… more…
Aviation history
What happened to the first Breguet 390T?
It was lost during testing: the first prototype, with Gnome-Rhône 5Kd engines, was the only example built of that version and was destroyed in an accident… more…
Aviation history
Where did the Lama land at the highest altitude ever recorded?
In the Himalayas: during 1969 a series of demonstration flights of the SA 315B were carried out there, and in one of them an aircraft with two crew and 120 kg… more…
Aviation history
How did the P-47's landing gear fit in the wing?
Thanks to a telescopic main landing gear: each leg lengthened by 9 in (23 cm) when extended and, when retracted, shortened by that same nine inches, so it… more…
Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How long did the Concorde take from Paris to New York?
Air France's Concorde covered Paris-New York in about 3 hours and 45 minutes of flight, compared to roughly 8 hours for a subsonic jet on the same route. It… more…
Aeroprints.com (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What rocket did the South African Buccaneers carry?
They carried Bristol Siddeley BS.605 rockets, mounted in pairs and retractable, on the South African Air Force's Buccaneer S.50s. They burned hydrogen… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How long is the Boeing 737?
The current Boeing 737, the MAX family, measures between 35.6 meters on the MAX 7 and 43.8 meters on the MAX 10, with the best-selling MAX 8 at 39.5 meters… more…
Benjamint444 (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Who designed the P.19 Scricciolo?
The Scricciolo was designed at the Politecnico di Milano's Centro Volo a Vela to compete in an Aero Club d'Italia contest for a light civil trainer. The CVV… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What are fighter jets like?
A fighter jet is a small, highly maneuverable military aircraft with high thrust, designed to destroy other aircraft. Modern fighters weigh between 10 and 30… more…
Aviation history
Which was the most-produced American fighter of the Second World War?
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, of which 15,636 or 15,683 units were built, depending on the source. It was also one of the heaviest fighters of the conflict… more…
Military aviation
What TV series was inspired by Pappy Boyington's life?
The series was Baa Baa Black Sheep, which aired on NBC from September 23, 1976, to April 6, 1978, across two seasons and 36 episodes. Its premise drew on the… more…
Aviation history
Why did Albatros's first bomber fail?
Albatros's first bomber, the four-engine G.I, flew on 31 January 1916 with Alexander Hipleh at the controls, and testing revealed not only poor flying… more…
Aviation history
What did the Sea King bring that was new to US Navy anti-submarine warfare?
There's no multiplier figure: what the Sea King did was combine, in a single aircraft, the hunter and killer roles previously handled by two different… more…
Colin Cooke Photo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How did the An-26's rear ramp open?
It had two opening modes: it could be lowered so vehicles could drive in, or slid under the fuselage so cargo could be loaded directly from a truck bed. That… more…
Jorge Láscar from Australia (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How long did the Concorde take from Paris to New York?
Air France's Concorde covered Paris-Charles de Gaulle to New York-JFK in about 3 hours 30-45 minutes, half the 7-8 hours of a subsonic aircraft, flying at… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why were Eisenhower's Constellations called Columbine?
Because of the columbine, the state flower of Colorado. Eisenhower had already flown as an Army general in a Constellation named Columbine, and he kept the… more…
Military aviation
What nickname did the Germans give the Sunderland?
The Germans are said to have nicknamed the Sunderland Fliegendes Stachelschwein, "flying porcupine", for its defensive firepower. On 3 April 1940, a… more…
Military aviation
How much does the most expensive aircraft carrier in the world cost?
The most expensive aircraft carrier is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), lead ship of the new US class: it cost about $13.3 billion to build, not counting… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What were the Chinooks called in Australia?
"Chooks." In Australia, the Chinook's first export customer in 1973, the helicopters earned that nickname, Australian slang for chicken. They were CH-47Cs… more…
Foto: 4300streetcar (CC BY 4.0)
Commercial aviation
Why are planes white?
Planes are usually white because light-colored paint reflects solar radiation, keeps the cabin cooler and protects composite materials, needs fewer coats and… more…
Aviation history
What was Goodyear's inflatable airplane?
The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an experimental inflatable aircraft built by the Goodyear Aircraft Company. It was designed as a rescue aircraft that could be… more…
Aviation history
Why does the Invincible's ramp only have 7°?
Because the Sea Dart missile launcher at the bow prevented it: the lower-than-ideal angle was due to its presence, and Invincible and Illustrious received 7°… more…
Military aviation
Did you know the F-104 was born from interviews with fighter pilots in the middle of the Korean War?
Yes. Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson, vice president of engineering and research at Lockheed's Skunk Works, toured USAF bases in South Korea in November 1951 to… more…
General
How much more fuel than the FJ-3 did the FJ-4 Fury carry?
50% more: that was the fuel capacity advantage of the FJ-4 Fury over the FJ-3 it succeeded. To hold it, a "wet" wing with tanks built into the structure was… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Records and curiosities
What are the youngest twin-engine aircraft sent to be scrapped?
Spirit Airlines scrapped two A320neos it had received new in December 2021 and July 2022, registered N950NK and N959NK. The deciding factors were PW1100G-JM… more…
Bill Larkins (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Where did the Trislander carry its third engine?
On the fuselage's longitudinal axis, atop a lengthened fin: that third engine mounted high on the tail was the most visible change. The Trislander was… more…
paullymac (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Why are military aircraft on flight radar?
Military aircraft appear on flight-tracking sites because many carry the same Mode S and ADS-B transponders as airliners and must broadcast their position… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Physics of flight
How high planes fly?
Commercial jets typically cruise between 9,000 and 12,500 m (30,000–41,000 ft), where thin air cuts drag and fuel burn while the engines still get enough… more…
Military aviation
How did American aviation solve the shortage of escort fighters over Germany?
Ronald Harker, a Rolls-Royce test pilot, proposed fitting the Mustang with a Merlin 61 engine. That produced the P-51B/C, the first long-range fighter able to… more…
Billyhill (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Why did the Baade 152 have such an unusual wing?
What stood out on the Baade 152's wing was at the tips: the main gear sat along the fuselage axis while auxiliary wheels sat at the wingtips, unusual for a… more…
Juraj Habaj (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many basic parts make up the L-39's structure?
Little more than two dozen basic components, counting removable elements such as the nose cone, control surfaces, landing gear, and cockpit canopies. The… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How accurate were the Albatros C.III's bombs?
Very poor: the C.III lacked a precise aiming device, so aiming its bombs was not easy and its use as a bomber amounted to little more than harassment. It… more…
Aviation history
What name was considered for the M.B.326K before it kept its own designation?
The M.B.326K was originally known as the MB-336. It was the latest-generation model in the family, fitted with the Viper Mk 600 engine, capable of 1,814 kg of… more…
Aviation history
Where was the engine located in the Bell P-39 Airacobra?
In the center of the fuselage, behind the pilot: the P-39 drove a propeller in the nose through a long shaft. That shaft, 10 feet (3 m) long and built in two… more…
Aviation history
How many SAI.207s were completed out of an order for 2,000?
None: of the order for 2,000 aircraft, no production aircraft were built following the mixed results of the operational evaluation and the signing of the… more…
Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
When did the Lightning prototype break Mach 2?
On 25 November 1958: that day the P.1B XA847 prototype, flown by Roland Beamont, reached Mach 2 for the first time in a British aircraft. The same aircraft… more…
Aviation history
Where was the One-Eleven manufactured under licence?
In Romania: Ceaușescu signed the licensed-production contract on 9 June 1979, and the first Rombac One-Eleven left the Romaero Băneasa factory on 27 August… more…
Aviation history
Could a Mustang bring back a downed comrade?
Yes, and it happened at least once. On 18 August 1944, Lieutenant Royce "Deacon" Priest landed his P-51 Mustang behind enemy lines to rescue Major Bert… more…
Aviation history
What aircraft replaced Trans-Canada's passenger Lancasters on the Atlantic?
They were not standard Lancasters, but Avro Lancastrians, modified Lancasters. Trans-Canada Air Lines withdrew them in 1947 and replaced them with the… more…
Rama (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Breguet 730 hulls existed at the 1940 capitulation?
None finished: when France capitulated, on 22 June 1940, no production Breguet 730 had been completed and production was halted. The Vichy government later… more…
Flavio~ from Mazkeret Batia, Israel (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Did a trainer aircraft fight in the Six-Day War?
Yes: the Fouga CM.170 Magister, a jet trainer, went into combat with Israel's 147 Squadron in 1967, with 44 aircraft attacking targets on the Sinai front on… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Who christened the first Airbus A320 with champagne?
It was christened with champagne by Diana and Charles, Prince and Princess of Wales, who gave the aircraft the name A320. The ceremony was held in Toulouse on… more…
Physics of flight
What is the speed of a supersonic aircraft?
A supersonic aircraft flies faster than Mach 1, meaning more than 1,062 km/h at cruise altitude (1,225 km/h at sea level). Concorde cruised at Mach 2.04… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the first four-engine aircraft certified in post-war Germany?
A Lufthansa Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation, D-ALAK, which received its type certificate on 1 April 1955 as the first four-engine aircraft in post-war… more…
Aviation history
How much water could the CL-215 carry in one pass?
5400 or 5450 litres of water, according to different sources, held in two belly tanks. The Canadian Encyclopedia speaks of more than 5000 litres scooped in 10… more…
Hansueli Krapf This file was uploaded with Commonist. (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Where can I track a flight?
To track a flight live, the most common option is a tracking website or app such as Flightradar24 or FlightAware, which show the position, altitude, speed and… more…
Airwolfhound (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Were there Spitfires in the Soviet Union?
Yes: the Soviet Union received 143 of the 149 Spitfires shipped from England. The Mk Vb equipped two frontline fighter regiments, the 57th GIAP and the 821st… more…
Military aviation
How many Hurricanes did the USSR receive?
Close to 3,000 Hurricanes reached the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1944, from British and Canadian production. When deliveries stopped, the Soviet military… more…
James from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How much could the armed Bonanza PD 249 carry?
Six hardpoints, on which the YAU-22A (PD.249) could carry 7.62 mm machine gun pods, rocket launchers and parachute-retarded bombs. Even so, it could not… more…
Fly-by-Owen (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many I-11Bs were built?
Between 208 and around 450, depending on the source: one of the AISA I-11 reference sheets gives 208 examples built, while All-Aero speaks of around 400 built… more…
Aviation history
How is a Guppy 201 loaded?
From the front: the Guppy 201's nose is hinged and swings open 110 degrees, allowing nose-on loading. A lock-and-disconnect fitting at the fuselage joint… more…
Military aviation
Why was it said that Catalina crews needed a calendar?
The joke was about the navigator: critics mockingly said the Catalina was so slow that its navigator needed a calendar more than a stopwatch. Its top speed… more…
Physics of flight
How was the NF-104A controlled once the rudders stopped working?
With a reaction control system, because in the thin air of the high stratosphere the normal control surfaces had little or no effect. It consisted of eight… more…
Aviation history
Which research aircraft validated the Lightning's low tail?
The Short SB.5, registration WG768: a variable-wing research aircraft designed by Short Brothers for the British Air Ministry's ER.100 requirement. The… more…
Military aviation
What did France demand after testing the Hispano-Suiza 8 at Chalais-Meudon?
That production of the 8A begin as soon as possible: that was how French officials reacted. The HS-31 had returned to Chalais-Meudon on 21 July 1915 and… more…
Aviation history
Did you know the Avro Ava had a 29.5 m wingspan?
Yes: the Avro Type 557 Ava had a wingspan of 96 ft 10 in (29.51 m). It was a British twin-engined biplane torpedo bomber from the 1920s, powered by two… more…
Sasha India (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How many airports are there in Mexico?
Mexico has 77 airports open to civil air traffic: 64 with international status and 13 domestic, according to the civil aviation authority. On top of those… more…
Fly-by-Owen (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What landing gear and canopy did the AISA I-11B have?
According to one account, AISA reduced the cockpit canopy and fitted tailwheel gear on the production I-11B. All-Aero claims the opposite: the I-11B was… more…
Aviation history
How many sorties did Fighter Command fly over Dieppe?
Fighter Command flew about 2,500 sorties during the day. The operation used around 74 squadrons and about 1,000 aircraft. The RAF and its Allied squadrons… more…
Aviation history
How many HH-53s could be converted to Pave Low III?
Eight HH-53C aircraft received an improved systems package and were redesignated HH-53H Pave Low III. The other figure in circulation, nine MH-53H and 32… more…
Military aviation
What happened to the ball turret before a belly landing?
In a belly landing the ball turret would likely be destroyed by the lack of clearance under the fuselage. The B-17 "Carolina Queen", unable to lower its gear… more…
Aviation history
How much ordnance could a Strikemaster carry?
Up to 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) of stores at four hardpoints under the wings. These could be four 500 lb bombs, 24 SURA R80 rockets, four 68 mm SNEB rocket pods or… more…
Andrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which rival lost to the A-10?
The Northrop YA-9, built as the YA-9A, was the rival prototype to the YA-10A in the A-X competition. It fully met the USAF's requirements, but on January 18… more…
Physics of flight
When is the sound barrier broken?
Mach 1 is reached when an aircraft matches the speed of sound, which isn't fixed: it depends only on air temperature. At sea level and 15°C it's about 1,225… more…
Aviation history
How long was the Arado Ar 231 supposed to take to assemble on a submarine?
The sources give no assembly time: what they put at under six minutes is how long two crewmen took to remove the detachable wing sections of the Ar 231. The… more…
Aviation history
How many pairs of wheels did the Arado Ar 232 have?
Eleven per side: besides its main landing gear, the Ar 232 carried a set of eleven smaller, non-retractable twin wheels on each side, mounted along the… more…
Aviation history
Why did the Blackburn B-2 lose out to the Tiger Moth?
It lost out because of cockpit layout: Portugal evaluated the prototype in Lisbon in September 1932 and, although the aircraft performed well and drew… more…
Foto: 4300streetcar (CC BY 4.0)
Commercial aviation
Did you know the first 747 rolled out of the factory with 158 orders from 26 airlines?
The orders came from 26 airlines, not 158 aircraft. On 30 September 1968, the first 747 rolled out of the Everett assembly building before the world press and… more…
Aviation history
Who was the first African American naval aviator in the US?
Jesse LeRoy Brown was the first African American aviator to complete the Navy's basic flight training program, though not the first African American naval… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What cargo was the Super Constellation that crashed on a Miami neighborhood in December 1973 carrying?
Christmas trees. On 15 December 1973, the L-1049H N6917C, carrying them to Caracas, Venezuela, crashed into a residential neighborhood two minutes after… more…
Military aviation
Did you know the F-104's first prototype had an ejection seat that fired the pilot downward?
Yes: the first prototype, the XF-104, carried a Stanley B seat that fired downward, out of fear that an upward-firing seat wouldn't clear the T-tail. Early… more…
Aviation history
How did Iran use its F-14 Tomcats during the war with Iraq?
First as an early-warning platform, helping other less sophisticated aircraft with target designation and defense. Also defending vital areas, such as the oil… more…
Commercial aviation
How fast does a plane need to go to take off?
There's no single figure: it depends on the aircraft's size and weight. A light training aircraft takes off at about 90-110 km/h (50-60 kn), a single-aisle… more…
Military aviation
Why did the US military prefer the C-54 over the C-69 Constellation?
Because the C-69 arrived late and troubled: its Wright R-3350 engines suffered fires and overheating, the B-29 had priority for those engines, and the war was… more…
SounderBruce (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How much does a Boeing cost?
Boeing has not published prices since 2021; its last list put the 737 MAX 8 at about 121 million dollars, the 787-9 at about 292 and the 777-9 at about 442… more…
Aviation history
How long did North American take to get the Mustang prototype ready?
A little over a hundred days. The firm British order for 320 aircraft was placed on 29 May 1940, and the NA-73X prototype rolled out in September 1940, 102… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Physics of flight
Why do planes float?
An airplane doesn't float like a balloon: it's far heavier than the air it displaces. It stays up because the wings, moving forward, deflect air downward and… more…
Safety and accidents
Did you know the Spanish Air Force never lost an F-104 to an accident?
True: the Spanish Air Force's Starfighters had the distinction of operating without a single accident during their seven years of service. Spain received 18… more…
Military aviation
Was the Bf 109's roll really as bad as it's said to be?
Yes at high speed: between 350 and 400 mph the ailerons stiffened so much that reaching a 45° bank took four seconds. The short-travel, short-arm stick was… more…
Boeing 777-224ER - Star Alliance (Continental Airlines) (N76021).JPG: Eluveitie derivative work: --Chrumps (talk) (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
What happens if an airplane's engines fail?
If one engine fails, the aircraft keeps flying normally: every commercial airplane is certified to take off, climb and land with one engine out, and crews… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Why is the rafale so popular?
The Rafale sells because it is a proven, independent multirole fighter: one airframe handles air defence, strike, reconnaissance, carrier operations and… more…
James Nicol (CC BY SA), vía commons
Records and curiosities
What size record did the Vulcan hold when Avro began designing it?
The record came well after the design began: the Vulcan achieved its distinction as the largest delta-wing aircraft in 1955, while Avro started from… more…
Aviation history
How far apart are the F-14's wing pivots?
The outer wing pivots, carried by the large fixed wing glove, are 17 feet 10 inches apart. The wing's central carry-through structure, a single… more…
Airwolfhound (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many naval Spitfire variants flew in the Korean War?
One: the Seafire F Mk.47 of 800 Naval Air Squadron, embarked on HMS Triumph. Between July and September 1950 it flew 360 operational sorties of ground attack… more…
Military aviation
Did you know the F-104 was tested being launched like a rocket, with no runway?
Yes: the F-104 was tested with Zero-Length Launch (ZeLL), with the fighter on a short ramp and a booster rocket underneath that fired it into the air within… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
When did the Eurofighter come out?
The Eurofighter first flew on 27 March 1994, when the DA1 prototype took off from Manching, Germany. The first production aircraft were delivered in 2003 to… more…
Jaypee (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How much does the Tornado's RB.199 engine weigh?
The RB199-104 weighs 976 kg (2,151 lb) dry, with a length of 3,600 mm (142 in) and a diameter of 720 mm (28.3 in). Its maximum thrust is 40 kN (9,100 lbf) dry… more…
SCDBob (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was, according to the text, the only European "gunship"?
The Agusta A129 Mangusta is the first European attack helicopter and the first designed and produced entirely in Europe. The first of its prototypes flew on… more…
Physics of flight
When was the autopilot invented?
The first autopilot was developed in 1912 by Elmer Sperry's company: a gyroscopic stabilizer that kept the aircraft level. His son Lawrence Sperry… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What was the P-38L's "Christmas tree"?
It was the name of the P-38L's rocket racks: the "Christmas tree" mounts carried five HVAR rockets under each wing and added 1,365 lb (619 kg) to the… more…
FOTO:Fortepan — ID 22672: Adományozó/Donor: Ungváry Krisztián. (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many men did a DFS 230 glider carry at Crete?
Nine men besides the pilot, sitting closely packed together on a narrow bench running down the centre of the fuselage. The DFS 230 could carry up to 1,200 kg… more…
Military aviation
How many tons of bombs did the Lancaster drop?
The Lancasters dropped 608,612 long tons (618,378,000 kg) of bombs between 1942 and 1945. That load corresponded to a total of 156,000 sorties. 7,377 aircraft… more…
Foto: 4300streetcar (CC BY 4.0)
Commercial aviation
How fast does the boeing 747 fly?
A Boeing 747 cruises at about Mach 0.85, roughly 900 km/h (490 kn) true airspeed at 35,000 ft (10,700 m). The 747-8 is quoted by Boeing at a typical cruise of… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What was the Airbus A321 originally called?
The A321, the A320's first derivative, was initially known as the Stretched A320, A320-500 and A325. Its launch came on 24 November 1988, around when the A320… more…
Aviation history
How many Do 217 night fighters were there?
364: of the 1,905 Do 217s built in total, 1,541 were offensive aircraft and the other 364 were night fighters. Production ceased in May 1944. Of the J-1… more…
Aviation history
Which Italian canard fighter flew in 1939?
The Ambrosini SS.4, a single-seat all-metal canard-configuration fighter, which first flew on 7 March 1939. It was the first Italian canard fighter and was… more…
Aviation history
What was tested at 1/4 scale before the Bv 238?
The FGP 227, a one-quarter scale flying model of the Blohm & Voss BV 238 flying boat, built to provide data for its development. It was completed in early… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many fighter jets does Spain have?
Spain operates about 150 fighter jets (as of September 2026): around 70 Eurofighter Typhoon and about 80 F/A-18 Hornet in the Air and Space Force, plus about… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How many Airbus A320s does Avianca have?
Avianca doesn't publish a fixed number of Airbus A320s because its fleet changes with every delivery and retirement. The A320 family — A319, A320 and A321, in… more…
Military aviation
Which Canadian factory built the Lancaster?
Victory Aircraft Limited, whose Malton plant received the contract on 18 September 1941 to build the Avro Lancaster Mk X heavy bomber. 430 Mk X were completed… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How much does it cost to return a Constellation to flight, according to the person who restored MacArthur's Bataan?
He didn't give a dollar figure: Seth Hinton, of Fighters Rebuild, who oversaw the restoration of the VC-121A Bataan, compared the effort to restoring 10 or 15… more…
Ashley Dace (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many KC-135s were built?
The original production version, powered by four Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engines, was built in 732 examples. These tankers transferred fuel mainly… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many C-69 Constellations survive today?
Only one. Of the 22 C-69s built during the war, a single example survives today: the L-049 registered N90831, which began life as the C-69 with serial number… more…
Image pending
Military aviation
How many Potez 54s did the Republic actually receive?
Between 20 and 21 aircraft of the 540, 542 and 543 versions, purchased by the Air Forces of the Spanish Republic; the first delivery, of six aircraft, arrived… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What nickname did the Ju 52 have in the Spanish Air Force?
"Pava." That is what the Ju 52 was called in the Spanish Air Force, which kept it in service well into the 1970s. Much of that fleet was not German: CASA… more…
Commercial aviation
How much does a flight cost?
There is no single price: the cost of a flight depends on distance, the airline, how far in advance it's booked, demand at that moment and fuel prices, which… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which Constellation crashed after being struck by lightning on takeoff from Milan?
TWA's Lockheed L-1649, registered N7313C, operating Flight 891. On 26 June 1959 it exploded shortly after taking off from Malpensa, Milan's airport, after… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many German aircraft did Polish fighters shoot down in 1939?
Polish fighters claimed around 126 German aircraft in the 1939 campaign, and one order of battle raises the count to 134 across all types. These are not… more…
Aviation history
What happened to the Arrows after the 1959 cancellation?
They were ordered destroyed: in the two months following the cancellation, orders were given to scrap all the aircraft, the engines, the production tooling… more…
Military aviation
What was the XB-38?
The XB-38 was the conversion of a single production B-17E to test whether the Allison V-1710 V engine could replace the usual Wright R-1820 radial. It carried… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What is the Boeing 737?
The Boeing 737 is one of the best-selling single-aisle jet families in history: it first flew in 1967, entered service in 1968 with Lufthansa, and has over… more…
Military aviation
What was special about the Hellcat's design among American World War II fighters?
It was a carrier fighter designed to be easy to build and to withstand damage, with widely spaced, hydraulically operated landing gear legs that rotated 90°… more…
Aviation history
Who used the Buffalo successfully until 1944?
The Finnish Air Force. Its Brewster Model 239s, an export version of the F2A-1, proved capable of engaging and destroying most Soviet fighter types operating… more…
Alex Beltyukov (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What is an airplane cabin?
The term "cabin" can refer to two spaces: the flight deck or cockpit, where the pilots operate the aircraft, and the passenger cabin, the pressurised… more…
Aviation history
Which Lithuanian military officer designed aircraft and led the air arm?
Antanas Gustaitis (1898-1941) modernized Lithuania's Air Force, then part of the Lithuanian Army. In 1934 he took command of the air arm and in 1937 reached… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What is the most modern Eurofighter?
The most modern Eurofighter is the Tranche 4, which Germany has been receiving since 2025 under the Quadriga program (38 aircraft) and Spain under Halcón I… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did the Smithsonian give in exchange for its Super Constellation?
Two Grumman HU-16 Albatross amphibians. The National Air and Space Museum was looking for a Super Constellation, and Darryl Greenamyer, who had acquired two… more…
Aviation history
Which Baffins returned to active service in World War II?
The ones that returned to the active unit list were New Zealand's Baffins, which before hostilities had mainly been used as trainers and were reactivated due… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Safety and accidents
Why couldn't the first military Chinooks be certified for civilian use?
Because of their flight-control hydraulic boost system, which had no redundancy. That is why the FAA did not approve the CH-47C for civil aviation. The system… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which Warning Star was called "Triple Nickel," and why is it historic?
It was the US Air Force EC-121D with serial number 53-0555, hence the nickname. On October 24, 1967, over the Gulf of Tonkin, it radar-guided a US fighter to… more…
No machine-readable author provided. Grimmi~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the first Avro to have a proper name?
The first Avro to bear a proper name was the Avro 523 Pike, a multi-purpose combat aircraft conceived to give the Royal Naval Air Service an anti-Zeppelin… more…
Safety and accidents
Why was the F-104 called the "flying coffin" and "widowmaker"?
The documented nickname is the German Witwenmacher ("widowmaker"), coined by German public opinion after the Luftwaffe lost 292 of 916 aircraft and 116 pilots… more…
Aviation history
Who was the York "Ascalon" fitted out for?
For King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill: the LV633 "Ascalon", one of the Avro York prototypes, was custom-built as their personal transport… more…
Aviation history
How many aircraft did the Dutch air force have on 10 May 1940?
About 155 aircraft on strength according to one of the counts (the figures vary depending on the source), 125 of them operational and 74 biplanes. With that… more…
Korrigan (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which seaplane was carried aboard the largest French submarine?
The Besson MB.411, a French two-seat observation and spotting seaplane designed by Besson. The French Navy needed an observation aircraft for its new… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Was the C-69 Constellation transport faster than a Zero fighter?
Yes. The C-69, the Constellation's military transport version, reached a top speed higher than that of the Japanese fighter Mitsubishi A6M Zero: over 600… more…
Aviation history
Which Bernard racing seaplane never flew despite its 2,200 hp?
The Bernard H.V.220, a French racing seaplane from the 1930s fitted with a 2,200 hp (1,641 kW) Lorraine 12Rcr Radium engine, never managed to fly. The… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What is the most modern Rafale?
The most modern Rafale in service is the F4 standard, qualified in 2023 and delivered to France since then in its F4.1 and F4.2 versions, with an upgraded… more…
Aviation history
What did Japanese ace Tetsuzo Iwamoto die of?
Of sepsis arising from treatment for appendicitis. In 1953 he began suffering stomach pains, first diagnosed as enteritis and later identified as… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did Lockheed do to build the Super Constellation prototype?
Since it no longer had a test aircraft, Lockheed bought back the Constellation prototype, the XC-69, from the US Air Force and turned it into the first L-1049… more…
Foto: Adrian Pingstone (dominio público)
Commercial aviation
How many Airbus A380s does Emirates have?
Emirates is the largest Airbus A380 operator: it received 123 units between 2008 and December 2021, almost half of the 251 built, and keeps around 116 in its… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which version of the Super Constellation sold the most?
The L-1049G, known as the "Super G", was the most commercially successful version: 99 units were sold, 38 of them conversions of aircraft originally ordered… more…
Military aviation
Why did VF-17's Corsairs carry a skull on the nose?
The emblem was chosen by VF-17's commander, Lieutenant Commander Tom Blackburn, who wanted an intimidating, characterful name for the unit. Since they flew… more…
No machine-readable author provided. Rybioko~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the first Czechoslovak commercial aircraft?
The Aero Letňany A.10, a passenger transport biplane built shortly after the First World War, was the first commercial aircraft built in Czechoslovakia and… more…
Aviation history
What was the first British helicopter to receive a civil airworthiness certificate?
The Bristol Sycamore: on 25 April 1949 it was granted a certificate of airworthiness, the first awarded to a British helicopter. It was also the first… more…
Military aviation
Why did they call the F-104 "Zipper"?
American pilots called it "Zipper" or "Zip-104" for its prodigious speed. Lockheed trademarked the nickname "missile with a man in it" for advertising… more…
Physics of flight
Why can't a Corsair pilot apply full power when going around after a failed carrier landing?
Because at low speed and high power the Corsair would drop its left wing suddenly and with almost no warning, due to propeller torque. If the throttle was… more…
Image pending
Aviation history
How many Bristol Tramps flew?
None: two examples of the Tramp were completed in 1921, and neither of them ever flew. The power transmission system, particularly the clutches, caused… more…
Aviation history
What does "Denko" mean?
"Denko" was the name of the Aichi S1A fighter and means "flash of light." The aircraft was meant to carry radar to counter B-29 raids over Japan, with two 30… more…
RB7MRV (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why were pure turbojets ruled out for the C-101?
Due to cost and fuel consumption: CASA soon ruled out the pure turbojets from General Electric and Rolls-Royce. Turbofans' efficiency and savings were well… more…
Aviation history
Which Italian training aircraft served in air forces on four continents?
The Aermacchi MB-326, built by Italy's Aermacchi. More than a dozen air forces bought it, and three countries on three continents built it under licence: CAC… more…
Aviation history
How did the Ago C.IV brake on the ground?
With a claw-type braking device built into the landing gear, which was supported by faired steel tubes. The aircraft's tail assembly was also thoroughly… more…
Aviation history
What happened to the Bluebird G-EBKD in 1927?
It was destroyed on 6 June 1927 at Bournemouth, Dorset, when it collided with a Westland Widgeon. Both aircraft crashed at Ensbury Park racecourse; the… more…
Military aviation
Which flying boats rescued the crew of the Kensington Court in 1939?
They were two RAF Sunderland flying boats: according to uboat.net, an aircraft of Squadron 228 and L5802 of Squadron 204 landed on the water next to the… more…
Aviation history
How many hours did a Vulcan fly with Conway engines during testing?
A thousand hours. The Vulcan B.1 XA902 completed 1,000 flight hours with Rolls-Royce Conway engines, according to the Spanish Wikipedia, and was later used to… more…
VirtuaaliAnu (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What are airports?
An airport is an aerodrome with facilities for commercial traffic: runways, taxiways, apron, terminal, control tower, and customs, security, fuel and… more…
Military aviation
How big is the largest aircraft carrier in the world?
The world's largest aircraft carrier, the US Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford, is 337 meters long (1,106 ft), has a 78-meter flight deck beam (256 ft) and stands… more…
Military aviation
How was the engine of the Corsair flown by the Royal Navy started?
With a cordite cartridge. The F4U Corsair is one of the best-known examples of American aircraft with a Coffman starter, the so-called "shotgun starter". The… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft did the Lancaster come from?
From the Avro Manchester, the twin-engined bomber that the Lancaster evolved from. Redesigned as a four-engined heavy bomber with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines… more…
Military aviation
How many guns did a Sunderland eventually carry?
Up to 16: the total defensive armament reached 16 machine guns once a two-gun dorsal turret was fitted much later, roughly level with the wing's trailing… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which Air France Super Constellation flew in Biafra and was saved from scrapping in Nantes?
The F-BGNJ, a Super Constellation delivered to Air France on November 2, 1953, and upgraded to the G version in 1956. Retired in 1967, it flew in Spain as… more…
RB7MRV (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why is the E-25 called "Mirlo"?
Mirlo is the official nickname of the C-101 in Spain. The air force designated it the E.25 Mirlo, "Blackbird" in English, while CASA identified it as the… more…
Aviation history
What was the A-36A?
The A-36 was the ground-attack and dive-bombing version of the North American P-51 Mustang, identifiable by the rectangular dive brakes above and below the… more…
Diliff (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many passengers did the Ferry carry in its first year?
Around 92,000 passengers: according to the aviation magazine Flight, that is how many the two Airspeed Ferrys carried in their first season of operation… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the largest airborne operation planned up to that point?
The invasion of Norway in April 1940. According to the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aviation, around 500 Junkers Ju 52/3m took part in the largest airborne… more…
Military aviation
What engine and weapons did the Australian Sabre Mk 30 carry?
The CAC Sabre Mk 30 carried the Avon 20 engine and two 30 mm ADEN cannon, which replaced the F-86F's six machine guns. It was the first production batch built… more…
Aviation history
Why did the Aeromarine 700 use a simulated torpedo?
Because of limited payload capacity: with a payload capped at 700 lb, the Aeromarine 700 could only carry a light, simulated torpedo. The seaplane was… more…
Johnnyw3 (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
When did the Boeing 737 MAX come out?
The Boeing 737 MAX was announced in August 2011, first flew on January 29, 2016, received FAA certification in March 2017 and entered service on May 22, 2017… more…
Image pending
Aviation history
What shaped charges did GRANIT use at Eben-Emael?
At one of the Eben-Emael targets, Granite attached primitive, unlined shaped charges to the turrets. When detonated they shook the turrets but did not destroy… more…
Aviation history
Why did many believe Pappy Boyington received the Medal of Honor posthumously?
Because nobody saw or heard from him during combat and he didn't return with his squadron, and a fruitless search ended with his declaration as missing in… more…
Aviation history
Which production fighter was the first designed on purpose to be aerodynamically unstable?
It was the F-16, with one qualification of scope: the first production fighter deliberately designed to be slightly unstable from an aerodynamic standpoint… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft pioneered nose-tow catapult launches?
An E-2A Hawkeye: on December 19, 1962, with naval aviator Lee Ramsey at the controls, it was catapulted from USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) in the first sea trial… more…
RB7MRV (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
When did the Spanish Air Force contract the development of the CASA C-101, and when did it first fly?
The contract with CASA was signed in 1975, on 16 September or in October, depending on the source. It covered the design, mock-ups, wind tunnel tests, two… more…
Aviation history
What plan existed for the CANT Z.511?
The Z.511 was conceived in the late 1930s to link Italy with Latin America, carrying mail, cargo and passengers, and the project turned into a multirole… more…
Physics of flight
How fast can Superman fly?
Superman isn't a real speed: he's a fictional character whose limit changes with every writer, from "faster than a speeding bullet" in 1940 to surpassing… more…
Military aviation
In which John Wayne film does the Corsair appear in action?
Flying Leathernecks (1951), directed by Nicholas Ray, with John Wayne and Robert Ryan. The F4U Corsair features prominently in the second half of the film… more…
Physics of flight
Why do planes just sit in the sky?
Planes never sit still; a cruising airliner covers about 900 km/h (490 kn). It looks motionless because it is far away: at 11 km (36,000 ft) altitude its… more…
Aviation history
How many hours did the TSR.2 fly before its cancellation?
By the date of its cancellation, the first TSR-2 had completed 24 flights and about 13 hours of flight time. Those tests were spread over a period of six… more…
Records and curiosities
What was the first British production aircraft with a retractable undercarriage?
The Airspeed AS.5 Courier, a five- or six-seat cabin monoplane designed by Hessell Tiltman, was the first British aircraft with a retractable undercarriage to… more…
Military aviation
Where did the F-104 carry the ammunition for its Vulcan cannon?
In a 725-round drum located behind the pilot's seat. The cannon was mounted low in the fuselage, on the port side, and was fed from that drum. With a rate of… more…
Foto: USAF, TSgt. Gary Tomoyasu (dominio público)
Military aviation
How many MiG-29s does Peru have?
Peru bought 21 MiG-29s: 18 secondhand from Belarus in 1996 and 3 new MiG-29SEs from Russia in 1998. After several accidents and years of low availability… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many seats did a CH-47 Chinook have in Vietnam?
As internal cargo, the Chinook can carry 33 to 44 soldiers, or alternatively 24 stretchers plus two medics. The CH-47A had a maximum weight of 33,000 lb… more…
Image pending
Aviation history
Which Colombian agricultural plane came from a homebuilt kit?
The Agrocopteros Scamp B, an agricultural spraying version of the Aerosport Scamp modified from kits assembled in Colombia. The Scamp was a small biplane… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What is the Eurofighter?
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine air superiority and strike fighter developed by a consortium of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain through… more…
Commercial aviation
How high does a private jet fly?
High-end private jets fly higher than airliners: their typical cruise sits between 12,500 and 15,500 meters (41,000-51,000 ft). The Gulfstream G650ER and… more…
Airwolfhound (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many blades did the Spitfire's propeller have?
Up to six: some early Mk 22s had a six-bladed contra-rotating propeller to absorb the Griffon's 2,035 hp and cancel torque. Most flew with the five-bladed… more…
Gennady Misko (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
What happens if a plane can't land?
If a plane can't land at its destination, it diverts to an alternate airport the crew already chose before takeoff and for which it carries extra fuel. In… more…
Andrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which combat aircraft was designed around a cannon?
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II: its airframe was designed around the 30mm rotary automatic GAU-8 Avenger cannon. The complete weapon, with feed… more…
Commercial aviation
At what speed does an Airbus A320 take off?
An Airbus A320 typically rotates between 240 and 290 km/h (130-155 kn) indicated airspeed. The exact figure isn't fixed: it's calculated for each takeoff from… more…
Military aviation
Why did Yamamoto declare Operation I over in April 1943?
Because he believed it had been a success: he thought Allied losses were greater than they actually were. He ended it on 16 April, and Japanese carrier… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why did Lockheed never have an L-1349 model?
Because, according to Dominique Breffort's book on the aircraft, no design ever carried that designation, possibly out of superstition over a number starting… more…
Military aviation
What did the Boeing 299 do on its flight to Wright Field?
It covered the route from Seattle to Wright Field on 20 August 1935 in nine hours and three minutes, at an average ground speed of 252 mph (219 kn; 406 km/h)… more…
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Military aviation
What wavelength did early radars use, and why wouldn't it fit on a plane?
The 10 cm wavelength radar only became reality in 1940, when John Randall and Harry Boot developed the cavity magnetron. Before that, the Chain Home stations… more…
Steve Knight (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How big is the Boeing 737 MAX 8?
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is 39.52 m long (129 ft 8 in), has a wingspan of 35.92 m (117 ft 10 in) and stands 12.3 m tall (40 ft 4 in). It's the best-selling MAX… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was Bolivia's "Pirate Plane"?
It was an American Lockheed Constellation, registration N2520B, which took off from El Trompillo (Santa Cruz de la Sierra) on July 30, 1961, without a flight… more…
Aviation history
How many Navions did Ryan build?
Ryan built 1,240 Navions. Ryan Aeronautical Company acquired the design in the summer of 1947 and began production at its San Diego plant in 1948; of those… more…
Aviation history
Which production aircraft was born from the Bede BD-1?
The American Aviation AA-1 Yankee came from the BD-1: only after Bede was pushed out of the company and the design was reworked, dropping the folding wing… more…
Aviation history
How did Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, one of Japan's great aces, die?
Nishizawa did not die at the controls of a fighter: on October 26, 1944 he was a passenger on a Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu transport, called "Helen" by the Allies… more…
Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Avro 504s had been built by 1918?
According to different sources, 8,340 or 8,970: Flight magazine gives 8,340 produced by the end of 1918, and the Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide… more…
Military aviation
Why were only 43 Sunderland IIs built?
Because production quickly moved on to the Mk III. The Sunderland II, introduced in 1941, was the first version of the aircraft fitted with ASV radar. The… more…
HawkeyeUK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Could the Mini-Copter fly as an autogyro?
Yes, but only one of its variants: the third version added a piston engine and a pusher propeller, letting it fly as an autogyro without the rotor-tip rockets… more…
4300streetcar (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
What argument was made for a 300-seat airliner for Europe?
The argument was one of industrial scale: it was recognised that if each European manufacturer launched similar aircraft at the same time, none would reach… more…
Reedy (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did the Constellation have in common with the P-38 Lightning fighter?
The wing design: the Constellation's wing closely resembled that of the P-38 Lightning fighter, also built by Lockheed, differing mainly in size. The two… more…
Aviation history
Which is the only Bell helicopter with tandem rotors?
The Bell HSL (Model 61), an American anti-submarine helicopter of the 1950s built by Bell Helicopter for the US Navy. It was the only tandem-rotor type… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Where is the Eurofighter Typhoon made?
The Eurofighter Typhoon is built on four final assembly lines: Manching (Germany) and Getafe (Spain) by Airbus, Warton (UK) by BAE Systems, and Caselle… more…
Safety and accidents
What happened to the German F-104 aerobatic team the day before the aircraft's presentation?
On 19 June 1962, four Luftwaffe F-104Fs crashed. All four pilots died. The following day was meant to see the first Starfighters enter service with… more…
Military aviation
How many Canadian Sabres did the RAF receive around 1950?
The RAF received 428 Canadair Sabre Mk 4s, designated Sabre F.4, plus three more from a batch built mainly for the RCAF. Of the 438 Mk 4s, around 70 were… more…
Aviation history
What material were the fuel tanks of the Beech AT-10 trainer made of?
Made of wood: the AT-10's fuel tanks were wood coated with neoprene, a synthetic rubber. Beech built the fuselage from plywood and kept only the engine… more…
Physics of flight
Why do planes need airplane mode?
Airplane mode is required mainly by regulation and caution, not by a proven history of accidents. Regulators such as the FAA and EASA require devices to stop… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Tiger IIs did Switzerland buy in 1976?
Seventy-two: 66 single-seat F-5Es and 6 two-seat F-5Fs, with a credit of 1.17 billion francs. Parliament approved the purchase at the spring 1976 session… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which El Al Constellation was shot down over Bulgaria?
The L-149 Constellation 4X-AKC of El Al Flight 402. On July 27, 1955, en route from London to Tel Aviv via Vienna and Istanbul, it strayed into Bulgarian… more…
Aviation history
Who founded Air Tractor?
Air Tractor is the work of Leland Snow, who had already designed his first crop-dusting plane, the S-1, in 1951, and had sold his earlier company, Snow… more…
Military aviation
Why are fighter jets flying today?
Fighters fly on most weekdays because training never stops: squadrons must log sorties to stay qualified, and bases publish weekly flying schedules. Busier… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Did you know the Boeing 737 prototype ended up flying for NASA for thirty years?
The first 737, registered N73700, was delivered to NASA on July 26, 1973, and flew as N515NA until its retirement 30 years later, on September 27, 2003. Its… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What aircraft did Konrad Adenauer fly to Moscow in 1955?
A Lufthansa Super Constellation. For the 1955 Moscow negotiations over the release of the last German prisoners of war, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer had the… more…
Aviation history
What aircraft sank the gunboat USS Panay in 1937?
Not a single aircraft or type. The Panay was hit by two of eighteen 132 lb (60 kg) bombs dropped from high altitude by three Yokosuka B4Y Type-96 bombers… more…
Andrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How much does the titanium 'bathtub' that protects the A-10's pilot weigh?
The titanium armor protecting the A-10's cockpit and some flight control systems weighs 1,200 lb (540 kg). It's made of titanium plates ranging from 0.5 to… more…
Physics of flight
Why do the Corsair's wings join the fuselage at a right angle?
Because of the propeller: with the chosen wing chord it was hard to lengthen the gear legs to clear the large propeller, and the solution was the inverted… more…
Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which British fighter was tested with Shark floats?
The Blackburn Roc, a carrier-based fighter, was tested with a set of floats from a Blackburn Shark fitted via a conversion kit. With them, top speed fell to… more…
Physics of flight
Why did early wartime fighter engines stall when flying upside down?
Float carburetors use the venturi effect to feed fuel into the engine's intake, and they need a constant fuel level in the float bowl. Since the float works… more…
Commercial aviation
Why don't airlines cover their planes in ads?
Airlines do sell some advertising, but sparingly: tray tables, overhead bins, magazines, and screens. They don't go further because every cabin element must… more…
Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why was the Bristol 188 made of stainless steel?
Because it had to exceed Mach 2 and withstand a considerable time with a skin temperature of around 300°C. Two special steels were chosen: a… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
How high up are the wings of an airplane?
On passenger aircraft the wing sits low on the fuselage: on a Boeing 737 the engine nacelles sit about 46 cm off the ground and the wing root just over a… more…
Cassowary Colorizations (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Poles escaped after the defeat?
Up to 120,000 Polish servicemen withdrew through the Romanian Bridgehead area into neutral Romania and Hungary. Most of these troops joined the newly formed… more…
Commercial aviation
How fast does an Airbus A320 land?
An Airbus A320 lands at around 130-140 knots (240-260 km/h) indicated airspeed, with full flaps and landing gear down. The exact figure, called VAPP, is… more…
Aviation history
Who flew the Mustang prototype's first flight?
The first flight of the NA-73X prototype was made by Vance Breese, an independent test pilot, on 26 October 1940 at Mines Field (Los Angeles), today the… more…
Aviation history
What was the Antonov KT?
The KT — Krylya Tanka, "tank wings" — is the Antonov A-40, a Soviet attempt to let a tank glide onto the battlefield after being towed into the air by an… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which Constellation was part of the Blue Angels?
A US Navy Lockheed C-121J. It was one of four C-121J converted into VIP transports and served as the Blue Angels' support aircraft until 1971, when a Lockheed… more…
Physics of flight
Why can't a plane land?
A plane can't land when safety conditions aren't met: visibility below the procedure's minimums, crosswind or tailwind beyond the aircraft's limit, an… more…
Aviation history
Why did the Beriev Be-30 not succeed?
It never got past a minimal series: only three Be-30s and five Be-32s were built in the late 1960s before the program was cancelled. The aircraft, designed… more…
Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford and Largs, United Kingdom (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
What did a number below 50 on a TTTE Tornado's fin mean?
That the aircraft was a trainer. At the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment, a fin number below 50 marked the dual-control Tornados, outwardly… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Safety and accidents
What cockpit rule did Europe impose after the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash, and why was it short-lived?
The two-person cockpit rule: at least two crew members, one a qualified pilot, in the cockpit at all times. EASA recommended it on 27 March 2015, three days… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which aircraft was designed specifically to investigate inverted flight?
The Albatros L 79 Kobold, though it was not a test rig but a German single-seat aerobatic aircraft of the 1920s and 1930s. Its wings, of equal span and no… more…
Military aviation
How many flight hours had Canadian CF-104s logged on average when retired?
Canadian CF-104s had logged an average of 6,000 flight hours when retired, three times that of German F-104s. Canadair built 200 CF-104s for the Canadian… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Safety and accidents
Why were all Constellations grounded in the summer of 1946?
Because on July 11, 1946, a TWA L-049, the "Star of Lisbon," crashed near Reading, Pennsylvania, on a training flight after an electrical fire in the baggage… more…
Johnnyw3 (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What is the Boeing 737 MAX 8 like?
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 (737-8) is a single-aisle jet 39.5 m long with a 35.9 m wingspan, powered by two CFM LEAP-1B engines, seating 162 to 178 in two classes… more…
Yannick Bammert (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Alouette II had been sold by September 1960?
By September 1960 the Alouette II had accumulated 598 orders from customers in 22 different countries. At the time it was also assembled by Republic in the… more…
Aviation history
What milestones did the P.1127 achieve?
The XP831 prototype made its first tethered flight on 21 October 1960 at Dunsfold, its first free hover on 19 November 1960, its first conventional flight on… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which interceptor was the largest in history?
The Tupolev Tu-128 was the largest and heaviest purpose-built interceptor to enter service, and the biggest and heaviest fighter to reach series production… more…
MyName (Claudioluchina) (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which bomber had a wing so thick that the engines could be accessed in flight?
The Amiot 143: its wing was thick enough for the crew to reach the engines through a tunnel open between the spars. It inherited the high-wing configuration… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How much fuel do the A320's sharklets save?
Sharklets improve the A320 family's fuel burn by 3.5% on longer sectors, saving about 730 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft per year. Airbus's retrofit for aircraft… more…
Aviation history
Why did the Ar 232 go from two to four engines?
Due to engine availability: BMW 801 production could not meet all the anticipated demand, forcing Arado to adopt an alternative engine. The choice was the 895… more…
Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Why is the 737 max 7 not certified?
The MAX 7 is waiting on one specific fix: its CFM LEAP-1B inlet can overheat if engine anti-ice is left on in dry air, a hazard the FAA now limits in service… more…
Military aviation
Did Corsairs ever face German fighters in combat?
No: the Corsair never met a German fighter in combat, though both Grumman types did. Its main European operations were the Operation Tungsten strikes on the… more…
Aviation history
Who were the first flight attendants?
Boeing Air Transport brought on the first female flight attendants in 1930. Nurse Ellen Church was hired as chief stewardess and recruited seven more nurses… more…
Per Egevad (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Which Concorde engine was tested on a Vulcan?
The Rolls-Royce/Bristol Olympus 593, the Concorde's engine. The Vulcan B.1 XA903 was modified to flight-test the installation of that engine; its first flight… more…
"Long Range Soviet Airliner Tu-114" by Peer.Gynt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.
Commercial aviation
How much does the 737 max 8 cost?
Boeing's last published price list, in 2019, put the 737 MAX 8 at $121.6 million. The figure no longer means much: Boeing publishes no list prices now, and… more…
Aviation history
Until when were surplus D.H.9s kept in storage?
Until the end of 1930: Britain's Aircraft Disposal Company still held large quantities of surplus war D.H.9s in stock then, and over the following year they… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the L-949 "Speedfreighter"?
It was a combined cargo-and-passenger version that Lockheed proposed based on the L-849, with the fuselage stretched 18 ft 4 in. The L-849 was in turn a… more…
Aviation history
How many Alouette III had been sold by 1978?
The French line's milestone falls in 1979, not 1978: that year Alouette III number 1,437 came off the Marignane assembly line, after which main production… more…
RB7MRV (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Where was the C-101 tested at low and high speed?
The low-speed tests were done in tunnel No. 1 of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) "Esteban Terradas," using a 1/7 scale model. The… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft was the MiG-25 designed against?
Not a single aircraft: the MiG-25 was designed to intercept high-altitude, high-speed aircraft such as the F-108 Rapier program, the Mach-3-capable XB-70… more…
Arado (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Why do planes have layovers?
Planes mostly have layovers for network economics: gathering passengers from many origins at a large connecting airport makes routes viable that a direct… more…
Military aviation
How were tools delivered to a damaged B-17 in mid-flight?
From another B-17: Lieutenant Colonel Conway S. Hall flew the Fortress from which special tools were cable-passed to a crewman leaning out of the radio hatch… more…
Military aviation
Why did the "Torch" P-40Fs carry a flag on the fuselage?
To deter Vichy French forces from shooting them down: aircraft with yellow-outlined roundels sometimes had an American flag added in front of the roundel. The… more…
Foto: 4300streetcar (CC BY 4.0)
Commercial aviation
Which Boeing is better?
There is no single "best" Boeing in absolute terms: each model leads in a different criterion. The 737 family is the brand's best seller; for the 777X, Boeing… more…
Pakistan Army (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did Zia Ul-Haq call "peanuts"?
The $400 million US aid package that President Carter offered Pakistan to counter the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: $200 million in military equipment on… more…
Military aviation
How many Corsairs did the Argentine Navy have?
The Argentine Navy received 26 Vought F4U Corsairs. They joined in 1956 to operate from the aircraft carrier Independencia and from land bases. They were of… more…
Aviation history
What advantage did fuel injection give the Bf 109?
Fuel injection gave 109 pilots a combat advantage: they could perform negative-'g' maneuvers without the engine failing. A Messerschmitt pilot could dive into… more…
Saiga20K (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How was the KT flying tank meant to land?
By gliding: the tank would reach the battlefield, shed its wings, and be ready to fight within minutes. The A-40 was the Soviet attempt to have a tank glide… more…
Aviation history
Why do the Pegasus turbine rotors spin in opposite directions?
To reduce gyroscopic effects: in the Pegasus, the low-pressure and high-pressure shafts rotate in opposite directions, an unusual arrangement that… more…
Records and curiosities
What speed record did a modified Sea King set?
It wasn't a production example but a modified US Navy HSS-2: on 5 February 1962 it set the absolute speed record for helicopters at 338.9 km/h (210.6 mph). It… more…
Aviation history
What technique inspired the surveillance of the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
From anti-submarine warfare: Operation Igloo White's first acoustic sensors were developed from the US Navy's Project Jezebel sonobuoys, which recorded and… more…
Eric Friedebach (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Why wasn't the Beech Travel Air called "Badger"?
It was developed and began selling as the Badger, but in 1956 a USAF letter warned Beechcraft that the name had already been chosen as the reporting name for… more…
Aviation history
Who is considered a precursor of the Space Shuttle's lifting body?
Vincent Burnelli, an American aircraft designer who devoted his entire career to exploiting the advantages of the lifting fuselage. The lifting-body feature… more…
Aviation history
Who crewed the Plus Ultra?
Four Spanish aviators: commander Ramón Franco, captain Julio Ruiz de Alda Miqueleiz, ensign Juan Manuel Durán and mechanic Pablo Rada. Franco and Ruiz de Alda… more…
Aviation history
How did the Tobul family prove their Corsair had fought in Korea?
With the logbooks: the family keeps the entries recording the types of missions flown and the targets attacked. The aircraft, bureau number 97143, was… more…
Commercial aviation
How many airlines are there?
There is no single census of airlines. The most cited reference is the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which groups more than 370 airlines… more…
Physics of flight
How long does it take for a plane to land?
An airliner takes about 20-30 minutes from the start of its descent from cruise until touchdown, since the descent point lies some 150-200 km from the… more…
Aviation history
How fast did the P-47's turbosupercharger spin?
At 21,300 rpm at full power. The engine's exhaust gases reached the turbine, located low in the fuselage roughly midway between the cockpit and the tail… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Safety and accidents
Why were hundreds of Chinooks grounded in 1999?
Because of a crack in the landing gear. On 10 August 1999, hundreds of Chinooks around the world, including those of the British armed forces, were grounded… more…
Records and curiosities
What records did the Breguet 1001 Taon break?
The Bréguet 1001 Taon broke the international 1,000 km closed-circuit speed record: on 25 April 1958 it reached 1,046.65 km/h at 7,620 m altitude. On 23 July… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
What is jet fuel like?
Jet fuel is aviation kerosene (Jet A-1): a clear, pale-to-straw-colored liquid with a petroleum smell, a density of about 0.8 kg/L, a freezing point of −47 °C… more…
Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Why did the Concorde disappear?
Concorde stopped flying in 2003 for economic and circumstantial reasons: it burned far more fuel per seat than a 747, only 14 units ever entered service, the… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How many Avro Tutors were built?
606 or 594 Avro Tutors were built, according to different sources. The RAF ordered 21 Trainers, 381 Tutors and 15 Sea Tutors, and there was licensed… more…
Aviation history
What was the Douglas F6D Missileer?
A carrier-based fleet air defense fighter that Douglas designed for a 1959 US Navy requirement and that was never built. It was meant to loiter far from the… more…
Dr Richard Murray (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What was the Concorde like inside?
The Concorde was narrow inside: a cabin 2.63 m wide and 1.96 m high, windows the size of a hand, and 100 seats in 2-2 rows split between two cabins, with no… more…
Physics of flight
What is the speed of sound?
The speed of sound isn't a moment in time but a measurable quantity: in air at 15 °C at sea level it equals 340 m/s, or 1,225 km/h (661 kn), and an aircraft… more…
Aviation history
What was "Adlertag"?
"Eagle Day": the first day of Unternehmen Adlerangriff, the Luftwaffe operation meant to destroy the Royal Air Force. Postponed several times by bad weather… more…
Tim Evanson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
When did passenger airlines begin?
The first scheduled flight with paying passengers took place on 1 January 1914 between St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida, aboard a Benoist XIV flying boat… more…
Voytek S (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
What innovations did the Gazelle introduce?
Two above all: it was the first helicopter with a fenestron-type tail instead of a conventional anti-torque rotor and, in its SA 341G version, the first… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Who became an "ace in a day" with a P-38F named "Oriole"?
Murray "Jim" Shubin. With a P-38F, a less powerful model than later ones, which he named Oriole, he shot down five confirmed Zeros, and possibly six, over… more…
Aviation history
What does "PF" mean in MiG-21PF?
In the MiG-21's designation, the P comes from Perekhvatchik, "interceptor," and the F from Forsirovannyy, "boosted." This variant was built between 1962 and… more…
Physics of flight
What flaw sank Vought's all-metal V-141 fighter?
It wasn't a single flaw: tests showed the V-141 still flew poorly, was prone to spinning, and also suffered tail flutter, which is why it was rejected. It… more…
Aviation history
What was the world's first aircraft with an enclosed cockpit?
The Avro Type F: on 1 May 1912 it became the world's first aircraft to fly with a fully enclosed cockpit for the pilot as an integral part of the design. It… more…
Les Chatfield from Brighton, England (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What is a "sniffer" in anti-submarine warfare?
A device that detected from the air the gases a diesel submarine released into the atmosphere. The British Autolycus, developed in the early years of the Cold… more…
Commercial aviation
How much does it cost to land at an airport?
Landing costs range from 10-30 euros for a light aircraft at a small airfield to several thousand euros for an airliner at a major airport. The landing fee is… more…
Pieter van Marion (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What did the An-24 replace at Aeroflot?
The An-24 was designed to replace the Ilyushin Il-14, the veteran piston-engined transport, on short- and medium-haul routes. It was a 50-seat regional… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Safety and accidents
How much time passed between the bird strike and Flight 1549's ditching in the Hudson?
Less than four minutes. The aircraft struck a flock of Canada geese at 3:27:11 p.m., at 2,818 feet (859 m); Sullenberger made the mayday call at 3:27:33 p.m… more…
Aviation history
What was Operation "Circus" trying to achieve?
To draw Luftwaffe fighters into combat. Circus operations sent bombers over continental Europe with a massive fighter escort for that purpose. The first was… more…
Physics of flight
Why do planes vibrate on takeoff?
Most takeoff vibration comes from the runway, not the aircraft: tyres rolling over expansion joints and grooved pavement at 250 km/h (135 kn) shake the whole… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Ju 52s did the Luftwaffe lose in the Stalingrad airlift?
266. Between 24 November 1942 and 31 January 1943, during the attempt to supply the Sixth Army encircled at Stalingrad by air, the Luftwaffe recorded the loss… more…
Military aviation
What nickname did young US Navy pilots give the Corsair because it was so hard to land on a carrier?
It was known as the "Ensign Eliminator," and not without reason. Early Navy pilots also called it the "hog," "hosenose," or "bent-wing Widow Maker." Its long… more…
Aviation history
What was Boeing's first pressurized commercial airliner?
The Boeing 307 Stratoliner, which was also the first airliner in paid commercial service with a pressurized cabin. Pressurization, combined with supercharged… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which aircraft caused the largest loss of American crew members in a single Cold War shoot-down?
A Navy Lockheed EC-121M Warning Star, call sign Deep Sea 129. Two North Korean MiG-21s shot it down on 15 April 1969 over the Sea of Japan, killing all 31… more…
Military aviation
How much does the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier cost?
The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) cost about $13.3 billion in acquisition costs, according to the Congressional Research Service, up from the $10.5 billion… more…
ZLEA (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What happened to the 24 AT-11s ordered by the Netherlands?
The 24 AT-11s that the Netherlands had ordered for service in the Dutch East Indies never reached their destination: the USAAF took charge of them. They were… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How much weight do the 737 Next Generation's carbon brakes save?
Up to 700 pounds (320 kg) compared with the high-capacity steel brakes on the Next Generation 737-700, -800 and -900ER, and 550 pounds (250 kg) compared with… more…
Kilyann Le Hen (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What made the A-6 Intruder special in Vietnam?
Its all-weather attack capability: it was described as the first genuinely all-weather attack bomber in history. It combined long range and 18,000 lb (8,200… more…
Military aviation
What top speed was the F2G Super Corsair rated for?
The F2G's top speed was 431 mph (694 km/h; 374 kn) at 16,400 ft (5,000 m). It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 Wasp Major, a 28-cylinder radial in… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How much does the Airbus A320 weigh?
The Airbus A320's empty weight ranges between 42.6 and 44.3 tonnes depending on the version, and its certified maximum takeoff weight ranges from 73.5 tonnes… more…
Military aviation
What cross was repainted over the Maltese cross on the Dr.I?
The Balkenkreuz, the black straight-armed cross outlined in white. It was applied in the field over the earlier cross pattée, whose points are still visible… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Where can you "fly" a Super Constellation cockpit near Zurich?
In a restaurant near Zurich Airport, where the cockpit of the old Aerochago Super Constellation HI-548CT is displayed, converted into a simulator. It was… more…
Image pending
Aviation history
What configuration does the AISA GN autogyro have?
The AISA GN was an autogyro with an extensively glazed cabin, a pusher-mounted engine and tricycle landing gear. The tail fin was separate, at the end of two… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
How many generations does the Boeing 737 family have?
Four generations: the Original (737-100 and -200), launched in February 1965; the Classic (-300, -400 and -500), launched in 1979; the Next Generation (-600… more…
Military aviation
At what speed do military aircraft fly?
Military aircraft fly anywhere from about 300 km/h for helicopters and surveillance drones to over Mach 2 (2,400 km/h) for fighters. Transports like the C-130… more…
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Aviation history
How long can an AWACS stay airborne?
An E-3 flies a mission profile of more than eight hours without in-flight refueling. Versions with CFM56-2 engines bought by France, Saudi Arabia and the UK… more…
Physics of flight
How fast does the F-16 fly?
The F-16 Fighting Falcon reaches over Mach 2 at altitude, about 2,400 km/h (1,500 mph), according to the U.S. Air Force's official specs. In real missions it… more…
Hunini (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
What are aircraft engines like?
Aircraft engines fall into two main families: piston engines, which drive a propeller and power light aviation, and gas turbines, which compress air, burn it… more…
Bento Silva de Mattos (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
Which British aircraft was mass-produced in the US?
The Airco D.H.4: of the 6,295 built, 4,846 came from American factories. Most were built in the United States as general-purpose two-seaters for the American… more…
Commercial aviation
Why don't planes have wifi?
The premise isn't quite accurate: many planes already have wifi, especially on long-haul routes. Those that don't lack it because connecting a plane requires… more…
Julian Herzog (Website) (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
When did the Boeing 737 stop being the best-selling commercial aircraft?
In October 2019, when the Airbus A320 family surpassed it in total orders. In active fleet size, the A320 had already overtaken it in 2017. The 737 kept the… more…
Aviation history
Why are the planes sunk in Lake Michigan so well preserved?
Unlike salt water, which corrodes metal quickly, Lake Michigan's cold, fresh water doesn't attack metal the same way. At depths of over 300 feet, that low… more…
Giorces (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
What does "Balilla" mean in the Ansaldo A.1?
"Balilla" isn't a technical designation but the nickname of the Ansaldo A.1 fighter, taken from a popular Genoese hero. The aircraft was the only… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What is the only US presidential aircraft ever sold to a private individual?
The Columbine II, a Lockheed VC-121A Constellation built in 1948 that Eisenhower used as his presidential aircraft from 1954 to 1959, is the only presidential… more…
Aviation history
What aircraft made the first landing on the USS Langley?
An Aeromarine 39-B: on 26 October 1922, Lieutenant Commander Godfrey de Chevalier set it down on the flight deck of the USS Langley (CV-1) off Cape Henry… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
How did the P-38 make its two propellers spin in opposite directions?
With "handed" engines: the two Allison V-1710s had crankshafts that turned in opposite directions, something relatively easy with that modular-design engine… more…
Military aviation
How many Hurricanes were there compared to Spitfires in the Battle of Britain?
By the end of June 1940, after the fall of France, 31 of Fighter Command's 61 fighter squadrons were equipped with Hurricanes. According to Fighter Command… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Helicopters and drones
What did Japan's Chinooks do at Fukushima?
After the 2011 earthquake, three Japanese CH-47s scooped up seawater and dropped it onto reactors 3 and 4 at the Fukushima plant to cool them down. They… more…
Milan Nykodym (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Who makes the Gripen fighter jet?
The Gripen fighter jet is built by Saab, the Swedish defense group, at its plant in Linköping. Brazil also assembles part of its Gripen E fleet at Embraer's… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Where is the Rafale manufactured?
The Rafale is built entirely in France by Dassault Aviation. Final assembly and test flights take place in Mérignac, near Bordeaux; fuselage sections are… more…
Peer.Gynt (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Why did the Nationalists call the I-16 'Rata'?
According to accounts, the Francoist side nicknamed it "Rata" during the initial bombings because of the Soviet pilots' characteristic way of flying, staying… more…
Military aviation
Did you know that in Vietnam the F-104C, designed as a fighter, was used mainly as a fast tactical bomber?
It needs qualifying: the F-104C entered service in 1958 already as a multirole fighter and fighter-bomber, and in Vietnam its primary mission was escort… more…
HawkeyeUK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How was the Mini-Copter powered?
With rockets at the rotor tips: two Aerospace General hydrogen-peroxide motors, each producing 42 lbf (0.19 kN) of thrust. A third variant added a… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What is the Rafale?
The Rafale is a twin-engine, multirole fighter built by France's Dassault Aviation, capable of performing air-to-air, strike, reconnaissance and nuclear… more…
Aviation history
How many Phantoms were built in total?
5,195 Phantoms were built between 1958 and 1981: 5,057 by McDonnell Douglas and 138 in Japan by Mitsubishi, which delivered the last one, an F-4EJ, on May 20… more…
Aeroprints.com (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What happens if Aerolíneas Argentinas cancels my flight?
Aerolíneas Argentinas must offer, at the passenger's choice, endorsement of the ticket to another airline, rescheduling of the flight, or a refund of the… more…
Aviation history
What engine did an Iris V flight-test?
One of the Blackburn Iris V flying boats was converted into a flying test bed for the Napier Culverin, a licence-built Junkers Jumo 204 diesel; it flew in… more…
Boeing 777-224ER - Star Alliance (Continental Airlines) (N76021).JPG: Eluveitie derivative work: --Chrumps (talk) (CC BY SA), vía commons
Physics of flight
Why do planes vanish?
Planes vanish from tracking when their transponder and ACARS stop transmitting, through failure, deliberate switch-off or loss of power, while beyond ground… more…
Jorge Láscar from Australia (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Where is Concorde now?
Concorde stopped flying in 2003 and no aircraft remains in service. Of the 20 built, 18 are preserved as museum pieces across the UK, France, the United… more…
Physics of flight
Why does the sound barrier break?
The sound barrier is not a physical wall: it is the sharp rise in drag and loss of control that pilots met near the speed of sound (about 1,225 km/h, 661 kn… more…
Military aviation
What happened to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln?
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is undamaged and in service. Modernized between 2013 and 2017, it operates out of San Diego; in 2024 its F-35Cs carried out… more…
Military aviation
What happened to the first squadron commander who took the Corsair into combat?
Major William E. Gise, commander of VMF-124, disappeared during an air battle and never returned to base. He was flying a Corsair F4U-1 02178 on May 13, 1943… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What did the EC-121R "Batcat" aircraft do in Vietnam?
"Bat Cats" was the nickname for the EC-121Rs of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, which monitored the sensor fields on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and served as… more…
Aka The Beav from Seattle, Washington (CC BY), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Why is Boeing shutting down?
Boeing is not going to shut down. It is one of only two major commercial aircraft manufacturers in the world, with a backlog of more than 5,000 orders and a… more…
Military aviation
How many air-to-air kills did the USAF's F-104 achieve in Vietnam?
None: the USAF's F-104 recorded no air-to-air kills in Vietnam and was barely involved in aerial combat. Even so, it deterred MiG interceptors and performed… more…
Military aviation
Who founded Hispano-Suiza, and where?
Hispano-Suiza was founded in 1904 by Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt and by Damián Mateu. Birkigt, born in Geneva in 1878, had lived in Barcelona since Emilio de… more…
Aviation history
What threats did the F-14 have to counter at the same time?
Two at once: highly maneuverable aircraft and the threat of anti-ship cruise missiles and Soviet Tupolev Tu-16, Tu-22 and Tu-22M bombers. The Navy wanted a… more…
Aviation history
What was the world's first jet trainer?
There's no undisputed "first": the Fouga CM.170 Magister was one of the very first aircraft designed from the outset as a jet trainer rather than a converted… more…
Military aviation
Whose military aircraft are sunk in Lake Michigan?
They're US Navy aircraft: the cold fresh water at depths of over 300 feet has preserved them as the finest collection of sunken historic aircraft in the US… more…
Aviation history
How did the pilot fly the Beecraft Wee Bee?
Lying face-down: the Wee Bee was an all-metal monoplane in which the pilot flew in a prone position on a beam-shaped fuselage. He rested his chin on a thick… more…
Aviation history
At what speed did the F-14's wing sweep change?
It did not change at a single fixed speed: the Central Air Data Computer moved the sweep continuously between 20° and 68°, keeping it at the optimal… more…
Aviation history
How long did it take for the first F-14 to crash?
The first F-14A, BuNo 157980, flew on December 21, 1970, from Calverton and was lost on its second flight, on December 30. A failure in the primary hydraulic… more…
Military aviation
What altitude did a Canberra reach on a rocket motor in 1957?
On 28 August 1957, the Canberra B.2 WK163, fitted with a Napier Double Scorpion rocket motor, achieved an altitude record of 70,310 ft (21,430 m). In 1953… more…
Commercial aviation
Why is the 737 max 10 not certified?
It is last in the queue and blocked by problems it did not create. Boeing must first deliver a permanent fix for the LEAP-1B engine anti-ice inlet, an issue… more…
Aviation history
Who piloted the first flight of the Lockheed Constellation?
Edmund Allen, Boeing's chief test pilot, piloted it after Lockheed borrowed him for his experience with the R-3350 engine. The XC-69 took off on 9 January… more…
Aviation history
Which aircraft brought home nearly all the American wounded from Vietnam?
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, the main cargo transport to Southeast Asia, flew to Vietnam almost daily with troops and supplies and brought patients to… more…
Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the first British aircraft shot down by the enemy?
The first British aircraft shot down by the Germans was a Royal Flying Corps Avro 504, downed on 22 August 1914. It was crewed by Second Lieutenant Vincent… more…
Aviation history
Which rescue helicopter was destroyed by a bomb explosion from a B-52D?
A rescue HH-43, call sign Pedro 70, which was thrown some distance away and crashed when the Stratofortress's bomb load detonated. It had arrived with… more…
Lars Söderström (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was France's first commercial jet airliner?
The Sud Aviation Caravelle, born from the medium-range specification that the Comité du matériel civil published on 12 October 1951 for a 55-to-65-passenger… more…
Physics of flight
How much is the sound barrier?
The sound barrier is not a price or a quantity: it is the speed of sound, which an aircraft meets at Mach 1. That speed is about 343 m/s (1,235 km/h, 667 kn)… more…
Aviation history
How many Spanish D.H.9s remained in 1936?
Twenty-five: that was the number of DH.9s still in service when the Civil War broke out, used mainly for conversion training. Hispano-Suiza had built more… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Aviation history
How many downed aircraft did Chinooks rescue in Vietnam?
About 12,000 aircraft, valued at more than $3.6 billion over the course of the war. Recovering other downed aircraft was perhaps the most cost-effective use… more…
A.Savin (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What happened in Piraeus on the night of 6 April 1941?
Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88 bombers, led by Hans-Joachim "Hajo" Herrmann, attacked the ships in Piraeus on 6 April 1941. At 03:15 the Clan Fraser, still unloading… more…
Military aviation
What did the Marines change on their Corsairs to operate from land bases?
The Corsair's long nose severely restricted visibility, especially with the aircraft on the ground. The changes focused on the cockpit: the seat was raised 7… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Records and curiosities
What was the Chinook's top speed when it entered service?
When it entered service in 1962, the Chinook had a top speed of 170 kn (310 km/h) and a cruise speed of 157 kn (291 km/h). That made it notably faster than… more…
Aviation history
What is the An-72's landing gear like?
Four independent single-wheel main legs that retract inward into sizeable fairings. Combined with high-flotation tyres, that sturdy gear lets the aircraft… more…
Col André Kritzinger (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the South African M.B.326 called?
It was called the Impala. In 1964 South Africa obtained a license to build the Aermacchi MB-326, and in 1966 production of the Impala Mk I began: the Atlas… more…
Aviation history
How much armor did the AEG J.I carry?
The armor of the AEG J.I was about 5.1 mm thick and extended from the aircraft's nose to somewhat behind the rear cockpit. It added about 860 pounds (lb) of… more…
Aviation history
What can a modern radar tell about a plane 400 km away?
At that distance the Boeing E-3 Sentry's pulse-Doppler radar reaches over 250 mi (400 km) against low-flying targets at its operating altitude. Its look-down… more…
Steve Jurvetson from Los Altos, USA (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Why are drones banned in Nicaragua?
It isn't an absolute ban, but a regime so restrictive it almost amounts to one: importing or flying a drone in Nicaragua requires prior authorization from the… more…
Foto: USAF, TSgt. Gary Tomoyasu (dominio público)
Military aviation
Why was the mig 29 made?
The MiG-29 was built to give Soviet frontal aviation a light, agile fighter able to win air superiority over the battlefield against the American F-15 and… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Why did the Bf 110 struggle against the P.Z.L. P.11?
The premise needs nuance: the P.11c was no match for the superior speed and firepower of the Bf 109 and 110. Where the Polish fighter had the edge was… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
What is the "gravel kit" on some Boeing 737-200s for?
It prevents damage or foreign object debris (FOD) ingestion when operating on unpaved surfaces. It includes a gravel deflector shaped like a wide ski on the… more…
Oren Rozen (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
Which Second World War aircraft gave the M.B.339K Veltro II its name?
The Macchi C.205 Veltro, the Italian Second World War fighter designed and produced by Aeronautica Macchi. The M.B.339K was named after that wartime aircraft… more…
Foto: Adrian Pingstone (dominio público)
Commercial aviation
How fast does the Airbus A380 take off?
The Airbus A380 rotates at around 270 to 310 km/h (145-170 kn) indicated airspeed, somewhat higher than smaller aircraft due to its huge mass: up to 575… more…
"Long Range Soviet Airliner Tu-114" by Peer.Gynt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.
Commercial aviation
How many seats does an airplane have?
There's no fixed number: it depends on the model and the configuration each airline chooses. A small regional jet has between 50 and 100 seats; a narrowbody… more…
Aviation history
How much fuel does a KC-10A Extender transfer?
It carries up to 356,000 pounds (161,000 kg) of fuel, almost double the KC-135's capacity. The refueling boom delivers a maximum of 1,100 US gallons (4,200… more…
Jorge Láscar from Australia (CC BY), vía commons
Physics of flight
How far is the speed of sound?
The speed of sound is a speed, not a distance: in air at 20 °C and sea level it is about 343 m/s (1,235 km/h, 667 kn), so sound covers one kilometre in… more…
Military aviation
Which part of the Sunderland were some of its machine guns fired from?
From hatches cut into the sides of the fuselage: the initial armament included a pair of hand-operated.303s, one on each side, firing through openings just… more…
Joe Schneid, Louisville, Kentucky (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
What was the first American light jet trainer?
The Beechcraft Model 73 Jet Mentor, said to have a claim to being the first light, single-engine jet aircraft built in the United States. It flew on 18… more…
Aviation history
How many Aichi E11A "Laura" were built?
Seventeen: only 17 E11A were built. It was an Imperial Japanese Navy floatplane used during the first year of World War II for maritime patrol missions… more…
Helicopters and drones
Which helicopter recovered Apollo astronauts?
The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, the primary helicopter for recovering crewed capsules since Mercury-Atlas 7 in May 1962. Helicopter 66 was the primary recovery… more…
Aviation history
How much fuel did the P-47 burn?
The Thunderbolts burned 200,504,000 gallons of fuel. The type logged 1,352,810 hours of combat flight time. Internal tanks held 305 US gallons (1,155 L), and… more…
Aviation history
Who flew the E-66 at 2,149 km/h?
Konstantin or Vladimir Kokkinaki, depending on the source. Konstantin is credited with the absolute record on a closed 100 km circuit, at 2,148.66 km/h, set… more…
Military aviation
How much do fighter jets cost?
A state-of-the-art fighter jet costs between $70 and $120 million per unit at the factory: the F-35A runs around $80-85 million, the Rafale or Eurofighter… more…
Foto: 4300streetcar (CC BY 4.0)
Commercial aviation
What is the largest Boeing 747?
The largest Boeing 747 is the 747-8, built between 2008 and 2023: it measures 76.3 m (250 ft) long, nearly six metres longer than the 747-400, with a 68.4 m… more…
Alan Wilson (CC BY SA), vía commons
Aviation history
How much did the Tu-28P 'Fiddler' weigh?
The Tu-128 weighed 24,500 kg (54,013 lb) empty and between 43,000 and 43,700 kg (94,799–96,342 lb) at takeoff. At that maximum weight it was the heaviest… more…
José Goulão (CC BY SA), vía commons
Commercial aviation
Where is Airbus made?
Airbus assembles its aircraft at several plants in Europe and around the world: Toulouse (France) assembles the A320, A330 and A350; Hamburg (Germany)… more…
Military aviation
How much do military aircraft cost?
Military aircraft range from about $10 million for a basic trainer like the T-6 Texan II to over $600 million for a B-21 stealth bomber. In between sit… more…
Safety and accidents
Why did the Luftwaffe only choose twin-engine aircraft after the F-104?
Germany lost 292 of the 916 Starfighters it operated, and 116 pilots, between 1961 and 1989. The public came to call it the Witwenmacher, "widow maker." That… more…
Memorino (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Why did many Vulcans have bulges for a missile they never used?
Because of Skybolt. When the Blue Steel Mk.2 was dropped in December 1959 in favour of the US Douglas GAM-87 Skybolt ballistic missile, Vulcans were fitted to… more…
Military aviation
How fast do fighter jets fly?
Modern fighters reach between Mach 1.6 and Mach 2.5: the F-15 exceeds Mach 2.5 (over 3,000 km/h at altitude), the F-16 and Eurofighter Typhoon reach Mach 2… more…
ZLEA (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which engine do the A-10 and a carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft share?
The General Electric TF34, a US military turbofan used in both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the S-3 Viking. It is a twin-spool, high-bypass turbofan. The USAF… more…
Aviation history
What was the first Vietnam-era aircraft designed specifically for counterinsurgency (COIN)?
Rather than the only one, the OV-10 Bronco was the first aircraft designed specifically for counterinsurgency (COIN) and limited warfare. It came out of the… more…
Peter Haas (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Why was the US Air Force's Boeing T-43 called "Gator"?
After its job: "Gator" is short for navigator. This modified Boeing 737-200 was used by the United States Air Force to train navigators, later called combat… more…

Aviation: questions and answers

How did the Nimrod AEW.3 solve radar coverage?

Which piston-engine fighter had the longest production run in US history?

Why did Airbus launch the A320 before the four-engine A340?

What was the Constellation that crashed into Mount Toubkal in 1969 carrying?

What did Maryse Hilsz win in 1936?

Where is the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford?

What were some Super Constellations used for in North American forests in the 1970s?

How many German aircraft did the RAF claim on 15 September 1940, and how many were there really?

Which is the only unit that flies the MH-47 special operations helicopters?

How long did the Aero A.24 bomber take to climb to 3,000 m?

What was unusual about the AEG B.I?

What did the Hurricane "Hurricat" achieve?

How much does the rafale cost?

What did Kelly Johnson say after the 1967 Kinmen air battle?

Did you know the Avro 558 flew with a motorcycle engine?

Which was the first VC-121A with weather radar?

What does "Jug" mean?

What innovation did the Corsair's landing gear bring to the US Navy?

How many buttons does an airplane cockpit have?

What did the Australian and Breitling Swiss Super Constellations have in common?

Which aircraft replaced the Canadian Argus?

What proportion of the fighter pilots aboard British carriers off Japan in 1945 were New Zealanders?

How long did it take a Lightning to climb to 12,195 m?

How many victories did Richard Bong, the greatest American ace of World War II, achieve, and in which aircraft?

Did you know Polish and Czech squadrons fought in the Battle of Britain?

What was the Budd Conestoga made of?

Which fighter replaced the Arado Ar 65E?

Why did the Canberra carry no defensive armament?

Who produced the biggest explosions of the Vietnam War?

How many Airbus A380s are there?

What was the first British tandem-rotor helicopter?

How many victories did Werner Voss achieve in 24 days with the triplane?

How many F-16s did Iran order?

What engine did the F-15 and F-16 share?

What does the airbus a380 weigh?

What designation did the F-104 receive in the Spanish Air Force?

Who has the most expensive private jet in the world?

Why are commercial flights safer than private?

Which country was the Bell 212 originally designed for?

How many Phoenixes did an F-14 fire in a test salvo?

Which Spanish helicopter had no tail rotor?

Where does the name Carvair come from?

What happens if a flight is delayed?

How big is the Boeing 737 MAX 10?

Which American fighter was in large-scale production throughout US participation in World War II?

How did the AC-47 get its nickname?

Why did Italy take so long to accept the Ansaldo A.1 and leave the front line to the SPAD in 1917?

Where did the F.K.26 pilot sit?

What did Specification B.14/46, which gave rise to the V bombers, call for?

How many Anderson Kingfishers were under construction around 1982?

How many victories did René Fonck achieve?

How were the Hs 123s supplied in Poland?

How many Eurofighters does Spain have?

How many M.B.326s did Alitalia buy?

Why wasn't the excellent Avro 530 put into production?

Which British bomber did the USAF adopt as the B-57?

What ended the Aerocar?

How fast do military drones fly?

What mountain range could the Barling bomber not cross?

Why was the 1943 Bf 109G a step backward from the F model?

How did an Arado Ar 232 end up in Britain?

Who owns Boeing?

How did the British solve the problem of landing the Corsair on carriers?

How many rounds did the D.H.2's drum hold?

How do supersonic planes work?

When did the Breguet 763 Provence enter service?

What did the Arado Ar 234 do with its wheels on takeoff?

Why did the Concorde stop flying?

What are supersonic planes?

Can you leave the airport during a layover?

What rare engine did the Britannia prototype end up carrying?

What did Operation "Jericho" achieve?

Which aircraft broke the world absolute speed record at 448 km/h in 1924?

Who originally proposed the aircraft that became the Airbus A318?

What was the first post-war British civil transport?

What advantage did the Bf 109E's Bosch fuel injection pump give it?

Which aircraft shaped the Spitfire's design?

How many Oxfords were built?

Which British aircraft sank the first major warship by dive bombing?