Random facts about planes..

Author
Discussion

Atomic12C

Original Poster:

5,180 posts

216 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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So what totally random things do you know about planes that maybe the rest of us may find interesting?

I'll start off..

A commercial plane is generally only 3 routine inspections away from a catastrophic fatigue fracture failure.
(This is the time between the element fracture line becoming a visible thing and the time the element will fail due to the fracture growth size)


On many commercial planes there is a triangle symbol above some of the windows (internal).
This is to denote the leading edge of the wing and also the trailing edge of the wing.





JoeBolt

271 posts

161 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
How about this: -

A plane is a woodworking tool, sometimes used to shave the edge of a door so that it's a better fit in the frame.

Jamesgt

848 posts

232 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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Signals from mobile phones cause aircraft to get lost. Most worryingly the auto land feature may not work causing the pilot to earn his money for the day. Pilot fatigue is a very serious thing.

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
Nanook said:
You know the oxygen masks that drop out of the false ceiling? They don't last very long, the idea being you get your ass down to 10k ft or so quickly, at which point you don't need them anymore.
I wonder if the cascade of falling masks actually cause more panic than they save? The pilot would head for 10,000
feet PDQ anyway.

bitchstewie

50,767 posts

209 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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The brace position is designed so your neck breaks quickly in a crash (or so I recall reading on here biggrin).

48k

12,978 posts

147 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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If the runway was a conveyor belt the aircraft would still take off /thread

texaxile

3,289 posts

149 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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They used to transport spare /replacement engines bolted to the wing (underneath). I have been on a Gulf Air Tristar back in the 70's which had this, 2 engines on 1 wing and 1 on the other.

Is it the A380 that has a spare compartment for stiffs during the flight?.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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When airline passengers have to evacuate in a hurry they often try to release the seatbelt by reaching for a buckle by their hip because that's what they are used to in a car.

'Cabin doors to manual' means make sure that opening the doors won't set the escape slide off.

At least one UK airport is reported to have secret tunnels to allow the Hereford Hooligans access to hijacked aircraft without being seen.


Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
Dr Jekyll said:
At least one UK airport is reported to have secret tunnels to allow the Hereford Hooligans access to hijacked aircraft without being seen.
Isn't Stansted the diversion of choice? 'Make sure you park over the manhole cover Number Two'

nonsequitur

20,083 posts

115 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
Without any power the 747 can glide for some distance.

The Tristar a/c had an underfloor galley with all the food and ovens etc and lifts to take it all to the main deck.

The crew rest bunks on the 747 are directly under the tail fuel tank, and above the aft toilets.

The captains authority is enshrined in UK law.

The liferafts have enough basic rations for up to 80 people.

Turbulence can hit at any time, so ALWAYS keep your belt fastened at all times when seated. This prevents you from visiting the roof.



HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
If you are fortunate enough to have access to the bar on a Virgin aircraft you can help yourself to as much whisky and other alcohol as you like........

And I thought crew didn't like you being absolutely legless

lick

drink

wobble

Oh, and the vertical stabiliser on the 747SP is taller than a normal 747 wink

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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Nanook said:
Anyway, on a 737-400 (And possible many other types) there are 2 small bottles to store this oxygen. The 2 bottles are identical. One is for the 2 guys/girls sitting up front, the other is for everyone else.
Don't you mean individual chemical oxygen generators, one for each passenger? wink



djc206

12,241 posts

124 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Dr Jekyll said:
At least one UK airport is reported to have secret tunnels to allow the Hereford Hooligans access to hijacked aircraft without being seen.
Isn't Stansted the diversion of choice? 'Make sure you park over the manhole cover Number Two'
Stansted or Prestwick

eldar

21,614 posts

195 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
nonsequitur said:
Turbulence can hit at any time, so ALWAYS keep your belt fastened at all times when seated. This prevents you from visiting the roof.
Excellent advice. Also saves you from being smitten by escaped food trolleys.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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any aircraft can have access to the inside via a wheel well... paperbag


TVR1

5,460 posts

224 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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JoeBolt said:
How about this: -

A plane is a woodworking tool, sometimes used to shave the edge of a door so that it's a better fit in the frame.
Now tgat has just made me laugh. Not much has today so thank you!

TVR1

5,460 posts

224 months

Monday 10th April 2017
quotequote all
Oh, and my tuppence;

There is no chicken. Thats the smell of the bird the engine ingested.

Temp up to sleep. Sleeping passengers are happy passengers.

Lower the temp to wake 'em up.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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My contribution -

The air you breathe in whilst on board an aircraft is actually 'bleed air' from the compressor stage of the turbine engine.

48k

12,978 posts

147 months

Tuesday 11th April 2017
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If you are flying United Airlines and the crew ask "is there a doctor on board" - be afraid. Be very afraid.

AER

1,142 posts

269 months

Tuesday 11th April 2017
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The United Airlines customer service is especially designed to help passengers feel more accommodating to the TSA security demands, or so I've heard...