7 cool facts about airplanes
1. When was the first plane invented?
If you are interested in airplane facts, you’ll want to know the answer to this one. The first airplane, the Wright Flyer, was flown for a sustained period and under control by Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright in December 1903. The first flight lasted about a long minute, covered 260 meters, and had a top speed of fewer than 11 kilometers an hour. By 1905, the Wright brothers flew their third iteration of the plane, the Wright Flyer III, over relatively long distances. Aviation was never the same again.
2. How much does a passenger plane cost?
Passenger plane prices can vary greatly depending on the type, the design, the engine choice, and how an airline wants the plane customized. Boeing planes cost between US$89 million for the 737-700 and US$442 million for the 777-9. Airbus planes cost between US$81 and US$445 million, with the A330 costing around US$259 million and the A380 priced at around $445 million.
3. What’s the fastest plane in the world?
The fastest plane ever was the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which reached a speed of 3,530 kilometers per hour. The fastest commercial plane in operation today is the Boeing 747-8i, which is operated by Korean Air, Air China, and Lufthansa.
4. How far can plane wings bend?
You might recall looking out a plane window and seeing the tips of a plane’s wings oscillate in the wind. Planes are put through rigorous tests before they gave the green light to fly passengers, and often have to pass tests under conditions that would rarely, if ever, occur naturally. On most passenger planes, the plane wing can flex nearly 90 degrees before breaking.
You might recall looking out a plane window and seeing the tips of a plane’s wings oscillate in the wind. Planes are put through rigorous tests before they gave the green light to fly passengers, and often have to pass tests under conditions that would rarely, if ever, occur naturally. On most passenger planes, the plane wing can flex nearly 90 degrees before breaking.
5. Do pilots fall asleep on passenger planes?
Pilots do sometimes fall asleep on planes, but most passenger planes have an automatic warning system that sounds an alarm if a pilot hasn’t moved for a while. On long flights, pilots will be given designated rest times, alternating the with their co-pilots.
Pilots do sometimes fall asleep on planes, but most passenger planes have an automatic warning system that sounds an alarm if a pilot hasn’t moved for a while. On long flights, pilots will be given designated rest times, alternating the with their co-pilots.
6. If a plane has to dump fuel, what happens to it?
In an emergency, a pilot might have to turn back, or head to a nearby airport. If there is too much fuel onboard to land safely, the pilot might choose to dump the plane’s fuel before landing. Most of this fuel evaporates and doesn’t reach land or the ocean.
In an emergency, a pilot might have to turn back, or head to a nearby airport. If there is too much fuel onboard to land safely, the pilot might choose to dump the plane’s fuel before landing. Most of this fuel evaporates and doesn’t reach land or the ocean.
7. Can a lightning strike damage a plane?
Lightning strikes on airplanes are quite common. Usually, lightning will strike the wing tips or the nose of the plane and will then travel around the airplane’s fuselage before leaving the plane again. Sometimes, a lightning strike can cause a little damage, or burn, to the plane’s exterior, but generally, a plane is unscathed.
Lightning strikes on airplanes are quite common. Usually, lightning will strike the wing tips or the nose of the plane and will then travel around the airplane’s fuselage before leaving the plane again. Sometimes, a lightning strike can cause a little damage, or burn, to the plane’s exterior, but generally, a plane is unscathed.
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