Jet aircraft are planes with fixed-wings planes propelled by jet engines. Only a few people may not know what jet aircraft is. There are different aircraft but only two broad categories, carrier and logistics. Fighter planes used in defense forces are also aircraft with different designs and purposes.
There is nothing new about the invention of airplanes as we all have read it hundred times. Though all people do not have the privilege to have flown at least once, people know a lot about aircraft. However, we here discuss a new dimension of aircraft, interesting facts.
Interesting Facts about Jet Aircrafts
The Black Boxes are not black: – A black box is installed in each flight, which is a flight data recorder and is painted bright orange and not black. This color is a heat-resistant highlighted orange which is easier to locate in case of an accident.
The toilet is not the dirtiest part: – Surprisingly, the tray table where you have your food or drink is the filthiest part of the airplane and not the toilets. A study revealed that the tray table contains 2155 CFU bacteria per square inch compared to 265 on the flush button of the toilet.
Takeoff and landing are the riskiest processes: – According to Boeing research, 13 percent of fatal accidents occur during takeoff or initial climb, or the first 3 minutes of a flight. The landing is riskier as around 48 percent of fatal accidents happen.
A Boeing 747 consumes less gasoline than cars: – Boeing 747 carries around 500 people and consumes roughly 1 gallon per second or 5 gallons per mile. This means that it gives 0.2 miles per gallon, and calculating it per person gives us 100 miles per gallon per person which is far superior to 25 mpg of a typical car’s fuel.
After single engine failure, flights can travel up to 5 hours: – We know all flights run on twin engines. ETOPS (extended twin operations) determines the travel time if one engine fails. This can be 5 hours per the ETOPS certificate 2014 received for Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Pilots are prone to sleep during flights: – In research by the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), around 43 percent of 500 pilots surveyed told that they fall asleep while flying, and 31 percent claimed that they wake up from a nap just to fine the co-pilot is napping as well.
The world’s heaviest aircraft: – The heaviest aircraft reported is the Antonov An-225, with a takeoff weight of 591.7 tons. This is amazing as even the Boeing 747-8F weighs 489.218 tons, far less.
Only 7 percent away from space: – Many flights can fly much higher than average 30000 feet altitude. When flying, you are only 7 percent of the distance away from space. However, the flights never fly that high due to passenger’s health security.
Fuel tank capacity of 48445 gallons: – A Boeing 747, Queen of the Skies, holds 17248 times more fuel than a gas tank of a heavy pick-up truck. Such high capacity is not utilized as only about a third of the plane’s total fuel capacity is consumed.
Plane doors cannot open in the middle of the flight: – We might have heard about people trying to open the door during flight, but it is impossible to do so. This is because the pressure of 4 to 14 psi inside the plane makes it impossible to open the door.
Washrooms can be opened from outside: – There is a switch below the plate ‘Occupied,’ enabling the flight staff to open it out. The provision is given considering a mishap to a person inside, giving passengers a sense of safety.
International pilots must know basic English: – To avoid communication disasters, the International Civil Aviation Association in Chicago Convention in 2003 added a new standard for the international pilots to be skilled in aviation English.
Huge saving: – By removing olive from salad from the passenger’s lunches, American Airlines saved a staggering US$ 40000 over a year. This indicated that airlines could make a big profit through the flights by just removing a single item.
No fatal accidents: – There is only one airline company in the world that never had a deadly accident. The Qantas (QF) has never faced any fatal accident to any of its flights through operating for more than a century now. This is some record.
Different meals for pilot and co-pilot: – This is exhibited by a few airlines, but the reason behind this is if the food is tainted, both pilots should not suffer illness. If they are provided with a difference in meals, at least one can fly the plane.
Food tastes different in planes: You might experience tasteless or unappealing food on the flight. This is because of the air pressure and low humidity in the plane, making your taste buds change, especially to perceive salty flavors and sweets.
Turbulence and non-fatal injuries: – Between 1980 and 2008, US airplanes experienced 234 accidents due to turbulence. There were 298 serious injuries and three fatalities; hence it is always advisable to be seated with seat belts. Obeying the ‘Seat Belt On’ signs have been safe to the passengers on board.
Contaminated water on planes: – Long haul flights will contaminate water in an airplane. Pathogens like salmonella, staphylococcus, and bug eggs can develop in airline water on a long journey. Apart from that, another 37 different species were also found in the water on board. Hence it is always better to carry your water bottles on the planes.
One hundred forty miles of wiring: – A manufacturer, Tyco Electronics, of wire connectors in airplanes, stated that a Boeing 747 can carry 750000 feet or 140 miles of wire weighing around 3500 pounds.
Laser pointer and offense: As per 18 US Code Section 39A, aiming a laser pointer at the jet or its flight path is serious, and a person can face five years imprisonment for such offense of pointing a laser at a certain red dot at a jet.
Dim lights help: – Dimming of light in the plane can help a person get used to the changes. In emergency cases and rapid evacuation, passengers can quickly gather their sights from dim lights rather than total darkness in the plane.
Airplanes can trigger lightning: – While flying through the clouds, there is every possibility of provoking the lightning because of the static charge. However, the planes were not hit by lightning due to the protective Faraday’s enclosure made of a conductive shield.
Oxygen masks do not last flight long: – The oxygen masks installed on the flights last just 12 minutes and are not for long flight periods, and however, these 12 minutes are sufficient to find a safe landing place.
Air in aircraft is drier than the ground: – The humidity levels in the Mojave Desert in the western United States reach up to 50 percent. Only a fraction of that wetness can be experienced on planes, and the average humidity in a plane is said to be only 20 percent.
Safest seats on planes: – According to the crash data analysis, the back seats of the plane showed 32 percent fatalities, the middle ones were least safe with 39 percent, while the front seats are marginally safe at 38 percent fatality rate.
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