Random facts about planes..
Discussion
Dr Jekyll said:
You are connected though to the random fact that the predecessors of the Red Arrows was called the YellowJacks.
There must be an "explain your username" thread somewhere, but that's one of the three reasons behind mine. As a kid, building Airfix models, I was assisted by my uncle and his extensive collection of aviation books and spare waterslide transfers in converting a Red Arrows Gnat kit to a Yellowjacks Gnat instead. It was one of the better results I achieved with Airfix kits, but sadly long gone now.The second was being a fan by residence of Farnborough FC (C'mon you Yellows! Yellows! Yellows!). The third was being a lifelong fan of Swansea City (the "Jack Army"). So I combined several of my interests to get there. I'm too young to actually remember the Yellowjacks though...
eccles said:
To get it back on track, coffee is quite corrosive to aircraft.
That is correct.I was looking over a DHL 757 in a deep service and all of the floor supports were being replaced around the galley area due to corrosion from spills. The rest of the floor was fine. Very interesting to see the aircraft stripped to the skin on the inside and being able to see the control cables running down the walls. I was looking at a short wiring harness related to the fuel system and checking clearances around the engine structure to avoid chaffing. The Rolls Royce clearance gauge is your thumb!
yellowjack said:
Dr Jekyll said:
You are connected though to the random fact that the predecessors of the Red Arrows was called the YellowJacks.
There must be an "explain your username" thread somewhere, but that's one of the three reasons behind mine. As a kid, building Airfix models, I was assisted by my uncle and his extensive collection of aviation books and spare waterslide transfers in converting a Red Arrows Gnat kit to a Yellowjacks Gnat instead. It was one of the better results I achieved with Airfix kits, but sadly long gone now.The second was being a fan by residence of Farnborough FC (C'mon you Yellows! Yellows! Yellows!). The third was being a lifelong fan of Swansea City (the "Jack Army"). So I combined several of my interests to get there. I'm too young to actually remember the Yellowjacks though...
El stovey said:
nonsequitur said:
I was most surprised, on a visit to the flight deck, BOAC Boeing 707, that the First Officer was using a sextant. It was between Tokyo and Honolulu.
This was circa 1969. We arrived safely in Hawaii.
How fabulous. Was there a sextant port with averaging mechanism and timer etc like this.This was circa 1969. We arrived safely in Hawaii.
Or was he/she just holding a nautical sextant up to the window? (Does that even work)
Boeing 707, During pre licencing tests the wings were pulled down from the fuselage almost 20 feet before snapping off. It was built like a brick toilet.
In the event of the landing gear failing to lower, the flight engineer could manually lower it by way of a large handle located in the lower bay. Absolutely hundreds of turns were required to fully lower the wheels.
At the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, there is the original 'Spirit of St. Louis' aircraft that Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic. Amazingly, it has no forward vision, only the two side windows.
All aircraft wherever they are can get instant contact with 'Medlink' in Phoenix Arizona for expert advice in a medical emergency. They are aware of the contents of all airlines first aid kits so can diagnose and treat on that basis. If it is necessary they will advise the captain to divert to the nearest airport that can handle the relevant crisis.
In the event of the landing gear failing to lower, the flight engineer could manually lower it by way of a large handle located in the lower bay. Absolutely hundreds of turns were required to fully lower the wheels.
At the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, there is the original 'Spirit of St. Louis' aircraft that Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic. Amazingly, it has no forward vision, only the two side windows.
All aircraft wherever they are can get instant contact with 'Medlink' in Phoenix Arizona for expert advice in a medical emergency. They are aware of the contents of all airlines first aid kits so can diagnose and treat on that basis. If it is necessary they will advise the captain to divert to the nearest airport that can handle the relevant crisis.
The Blackburn Beverly and Fouga Magister were both ultimately derived from gliders.
The wheels on early aircraft look like bicycle wheels because the tension spoked wheel used by bicycles was originally designed for aircraft. George Cayley in 1809 realised that if he was going to get an aircraft to fly it needed to be very light and inventing a lighter type of wheel was part of his research.
The first commercial airline company the 'Aerial Transit Company' was formed in 1843. Inventing an airliner was regarded as a minor technical hurdle but unfortunately proved to be more difficult than anticipated. (Shades of Virgin Galactic).
The wheels on early aircraft look like bicycle wheels because the tension spoked wheel used by bicycles was originally designed for aircraft. George Cayley in 1809 realised that if he was going to get an aircraft to fly it needed to be very light and inventing a lighter type of wheel was part of his research.
The first commercial airline company the 'Aerial Transit Company' was formed in 1843. Inventing an airliner was regarded as a minor technical hurdle but unfortunately proved to be more difficult than anticipated. (Shades of Virgin Galactic).
Starfighter said:
eccles said:
To get it back on track, coffee is quite corrosive to aircraft.
That is correct.I was looking over a DHL 757 in a deep service and all of the floor supports were being replaced around the galley area due to corrosion from spills. The rest of the floor was fine. Very interesting to see the aircraft stripped to the skin on the inside and being able to see the control cables running down the walls. I was looking at a short wiring harness related to the fuel system and checking clearances around the engine structure to avoid chaffing. The Rolls Royce clearance gauge is your thumb!
eccles said:
It's still fairly common to replace/repair floor beams around galleys on big servicings, despite a whole range of safeguards.
Covered in crusty urine. Here's another. VC10 had a urinal in the rear toilet and three oxy masks... so it was clearly designed for a few fellas in a tight space.
nonsequitur said:
At the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, there is the original 'Spirit of St. Louis' aircraft that Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic. Amazingly, it has no forward vision, only the two side windows.
The aircraft on which it was based, the Ryan Brougham, DID have a normal forward facing windscreen. However, in the "Spirit of St Louis", the space between the engine and the cockpit was taken up with a large fuel tank - thereby removing any room for a windscreen. Instead, Lindberg had a periscope fitted to allow some limited forward vision.On the subject of what's in the Smithsonian, also displayed are the Apollo 11 Command Module, John Glenn's Mercury capsule and the Wright Brother's Flyer No. III.
uncinqsix said:
dvs_dave said:
The Boeing 777-200ER is the longest range commercial airliner. In 2005 it set a non-stop record of Hong Kong to London. The long way round. Over 13,400 miles, and 22hrs. Quite incredible.
[pedant] That was the -200LR wasn't it? [/pedant]eccles said:
dvs_dave said:
The Boeing 777-200ER is the longest range commercial airliner. In 2005 it set a non-stop record of Hong Kong to London. The long way round. Over 13,400 miles, and 22hrs. Quite incredible.
And the long range tanks were designed and made in Cambridge.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff