Typically pertains to the study of heavier than air aircraft. Can relate to the applicable theories, design, construction, behavior and use of such craft.
11
votes
2answers
457 views
Was the 2010 Polish presidential Tu-154 plane crash set up?
In 2010, a plane crash killed many top Polish officials. It occurred over Russian soil, and involved an aircraft carrying many politicians and military officials with a strong opposition towards the ...
21
votes
1answer
13k views
Can a commercial airplane fly in an inverted position as depicted in Flight?
In Flight, to prevent the plane from diving, the pilot puts it upside down before flipping it back over just before landing. This is supposed to be loosely based on flight 261 from Alaska Airlines ...
5
votes
2answers
621 views
Do commercial airliners go into flat spins if they lose electronics?
In movies and television, commercial airliners that have lost electronics often go into flat spins and inevitably crash. Is this what would really happen? Would the plane be able to glide to a ...
9
votes
1answer
556 views
Can jet lag give you permanent memory and learning problems?
A recent article on Cracked.com, 5 Things You Won't Believe Are Making You Dumber, claims "jet lag gives you permanent memory and learning problems" and cited several studies. But when you look at the ...
9
votes
1answer
2k views
Did an F-15 airplane successfully land with just one wing?
I've just been forwarded a video about a jetfighter landing with just one wing and I wonder if this could indeed be true.
Here's the link to the video: One-Winged F 15 Crash Landing Video (landing ...
0
votes
2answers
442 views
Do airplanes need to deviate their routes on new year's eve?
As many parts of the world commemorates the new year's eve with a lot of fireworks (which explode at the height of a take-off/landing). Are airplanes pilots required to deviate from their original ...
23
votes
2answers
8k views
Why do we open the window shades during landing and take-off?
I have experienced that during take-off and landing on commercial passenger flights, there are clear instructions to the passengers to keep their window shades open. This is done both during day and ...
10
votes
0answers
496 views
Can airport X-ray machines scramble Kindle screens?
According to the Daily Mail, there have been reports of X-ray machines scrambling Kindle screens, despite Amazon's claims that it is impossible. Can X-ray machines have this effect?
9
votes
3answers
775 views
Is it possible to fly like a bird using semi-motorized wings?
On his website http://www.humanbirdwings.net/ the dutch engineer Jarno Smeets claims to have successfully build a set of 17 m2 bird-like wings from material of a kite. It is claimed that it uses ...
9
votes
1answer
837 views
Do airplanes release biological or chemical agents, forming trails?
Since the topic of the week is conspiracy theories, here's one that I've had re-iterated at me a few times. Supposedly these white stripes after airplanes is created by airplanes releasing biological ...
6
votes
1answer
8k views
Is it okay to eat food that has been through airport x-ray scanners
I took 4 flights last week, and my chocolate was scanned 4 times in the baggage scanner. Is it safe to eat that?
10
votes
1answer
3k views
If you're born on an airplane, do you get free flights for life?
It's a common myth that if you're born on an airplane, or mid-flight, you get free flights for life from whatever company is running the flight.
Example of a claim - just pertaining to one company, ...
3
votes
0answers
222 views
Is there any proof, enhanced airport security in US has significantly reduced terror attacks in US plane? [closed]
This question is similar to Has the U.S. Transport Security Administration been an effective deterrent for terrorist attacks? but I am asking for data, not an opinion.
Is there any proof these ...
8
votes
1answer
464 views
Are fume events a frequent health hazard to airplane passengers?
Are friend told me about oil fumes contamination he experienced during a flight. This seems to be no isolated case. This list shows several incidents of similar type over years.
“Upon initial ...
5
votes
2answers
4k views
Did a plane hit the Pentagon on September 11, 2001?
Is it possible that a plane hit the side of the pentagon, but did not even scuff up the grass?
There are some claims of other anomalies that don't quite match the idea of a plane hitting there; like ...
21
votes
1answer
8k views
Did removing one olive lead to an airline saving thousands of dollars?
Quite a common story that gets brought up around airports or business meetings when someone wants to provide a famous example of small change for massive savings is the olive story.
Apparently there ...
23
votes
2answers
3k views
Are airplanes the safest mode of transportation?
Considering the number of people that use it compared to other transports (cars, trains, boats), do you have less chances to die in a plane?
Are there any studies about this?
16
votes
2answers
706 views
Does banning liquids from planes verifiably improve flight safety? [closed]
I don't think I need to reference the now ubiquitous idea that, somehow, the presence of liquids in a passenger's carry-on luggage constitute a danger for the safety of the flight (and thus justifies ...
0
votes
0answers
121 views
Is it bad to turn on a cell phone and electronic devices during a commercial flight? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are personal electronics a risk to commercial aviation?
Flight attendants usually asks for cell phone to be switched off throughout the flight, and other electronic ...
12
votes
3answers
964 views
Did the the crew of Flight 1549 (that ditched in the Hudson) do an exceptionally good job?
In January 2009, US Airways Flight 1549
successfully ditched in the Hudson River adjacent to midtown Manhattan six minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport after being disabled by striking a ...
15
votes
5answers
4k views
Do commercial airline pilots make around $19,000 - $25,000 per year?
I always thought pilots were paid well. I am currently watching the movie "Capitalism, A love Story," and Michael Moore interviews some pilots, in which the pilots say they make around $19,000 - ...
5
votes
1answer
393 views
Can radar from low-flying planes kill small animals?
I have heard this claim in the past, and have found a few references to it (Example 1, Example 2). Supposedly military avionic radar units are so powerful that they are capable of killing small ...
19
votes
3answers
3k views
Were the Wright Brothers the first to fly?
I'd say it's a commonly held belief that the Wright brothers were the first to achieve controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than air human flight, as it can be found in most history books. ...
39
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it possible to cause problems to an aircraft pilot with an “over-the-counter” laser?
I've been admonished not to ever shine a laser into the night sky as it might "dazzle pilots" and potentially bring down airplanes. This seems kind of illogical for a number of reasons:
If a plane ...
3
votes
0answers
231 views
Why 'every' electrical devices in an airplane are prohibited during landing and departing? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are personal electronics a risk to commercial aviation?
Not only the electrical devices using EM wave (ex: Cellphone, RC car, ...), but other electrical devices (ex: ...
8
votes
1answer
217 views
Are plane cabins particularly unhealthy environments?
Obviously, the risk of airborne transmission of disease increases based on proximity, but are airplane cabins particularly more unhealthy than, say, train cabins? Is there something (e.g., air ...
19
votes
1answer
17k views
Does oxygen get you high enough to keep you calm during a plane crash?
Does oxygen get you high? If so, is the effect strong enough to keep the average person placid during a plane crash?
From the movie Fight Club:
Tyler Durden: [pointing at an
emergency ...
77
votes
4answers
10k views
Is it possible to fly 4 helicopters anywhere in a country without official knowledge?
According to reports, there were 4 helicopters used in the raid on Osama Bin Laden. They apparently left from Ghazi.
Is it conceivable that even one helicopter could be flown so close to the capital ...
5
votes
1answer
358 views
Has the U.S. Transport Security Administration been an effective deterrent for terrorist attacks? [closed]
How effective has the TSA been in preventing terrorist attacks in planes travelling to and from the United States?
20
votes
3answers
1k views
Are safety belts in planes meant for safety?
I was travelling by air today, and I realized that there's an important difference between safety belts in cars and planes. A safety belt in a car moves from the chest on one side to the hip on the ...
64
votes
4answers
2k views
Are personal electronics a risk to commercial aviation?
Are personal electronics (of present or recent past; e.g. cell phones, mp3 players, iPads) a risk to commercial air travel? Is the typical request to "turn off all personal electronic devices" based ...
11
votes
3answers
808 views
Have there been any credible reports of unidentified flying objects?
A unidentified flying object is just that—a flying object that has not been identified. There need not be evidence of alien hi-jinx.
My criteria for a credible UFO report would include:
...
11
votes
1answer
773 views
Do contrails last long enough to explain chemtrails?
I often hear the claim that "chemtrails" have to exist, because normal contrails don't linger very long. Is there a definitive scientific explanation for why normal contrails sometimes do, in fact ...
