If you’ve ever had the window seat on a flight, you may have looked out of it and admired the aerial view. The small, triple-paned glass does not provide a full panoramic view, but it usually gives enough visibility to enjoy the scenery. The oval-shaped windows may seem to stylistically go well with the sleek shape [...]
Jet lag is problematic. You travel on an airplane for an extended amount of time and a feeling of fatigue and discomfort overcomes you upon reaching your destination. Our bodies try to compensate and you can take some steps to help fight it, too. However, what if the airplane you were on worked to fight jet [...]
Albert S. "Scott" Crossfield was a Navy fighter pilot and flight instructor. Born on October 2, 1921, Crossfield attended the University of Washington to study aeronautical engineering. He eventually dropped out and instead graduated from civilian aviation school before obtaining his private pilot’s license. He shifted back and forth between working at Boeing Aircraft Company [...]
We often hear a lot of news on new technology and innovation for airplanes like flexible wings and turbulence-detecting lasers. However, there is not an incredible amount of news on helicopter technology--and there should be. Helicopters and airplanes are two entirely different machines; one generates lift through spinning rotors while airplanes fly by moving forward while [...]
Within the last year, the United States Navy heavily focused on improving the strike fighters in their fleet. The F/A-18 Hornet is a modern version of the Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon and designed to be a fighter and attack jet. The more current aircraft in the fleet, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, is about to [...]
The Aichi D3A was a carrier dive bomber primarily used in WWII that played a role in almost every Imperial Japanese Navy mission. The D3A replaced the D1A biplane in the mid-1930s as a faster plane that was able to handle the same tasks. Aichi, Nakajima, and Mitsubishi submitted designs to the Japanese Navy for the [...]
Communication is key, especially in aviation. It can be used to warn someone of danger and achieve goals as a team. It can also be used to help avoid huge disasters and call for help in dire circumstances. If you’ve ever seen a military-related movie or television show, you may have noticed pilots talking over [...]
Aircraft engine testing, especially on commercial flights, is top-priority to ensure safety for everyone on board. According to the FAA, more than 42,000 flights and 2,587,000 passengers traveled in the United States in 2016. Seeing exactly how many people rely on commercial aircraft for domestic transportation further emphasizes the importance of engine testing. All Weather [...]
Britain’s first great ace Albert Ball was a sensational World War I fighter pilot who made history at a young age. Ball was born August 14, 1896 in Nottingham, England to Sir Albert Ball and Harriett Mary page. He enjoyed learning about engines and electrical equipment as a child and had an impressive aim when shooting [...]
In 1955, the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) introduced the first supersonic plane to Western Europe--the Saab 35 Draken. The highly-adaptable plane was initially produced for interceptive duties and took to the sky for the first time in 1955 before joining the Swedish Air Force in 1960. Saab manufactured 651 of the aircraft between 1955 and 1974. [...]
