The plane enthusiasts thread

[Drago]

If you're jumping in the army (I never did, joined the wrong gang) they'd plug you in the the air supply in the 10-12k ft region.

 

[DaveReading]

Commercial airliners are pressurised to the minimum that most people find comfortable, which is about 8,000 feet equivalent.

And more recent airliners - the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 - fly with a higher pressure differential that means the cabin stays at around 5500-6000 feet in the cruise.

 

[rogerzilla]

And more recent airliners - the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 - fly with a higher pressure differential that means the cabin stays at around 5500-6000 feet in the cruise.

Is that because carbon fibre can endure more pressurisation/depressurisation cycles than aluminium?

 

[DaveReading]

Is that because carbon fibre can endure more pressurisation/depressurisation cycles than aluminium?

Yes, CFRP makes it easier to have an increased pressure differential (i.e. lower cabin altitude) and, equally important, higher cabin humidity, both of which improve the passenger experience.

 

[dicko]

 

[mickle]

I used to fly on this beasty two or four times a year. It's final nose up attitude caused by the final draining of the tanks and/or the existence of much honey deposited in the tail by wild bees, depending on who you talk to..

 

[figbat]

Yeah, they were a bit wheelie prone. This happened due to a fuelling mistake and wrote the aircraft off.

 

[DaveReading]

Yeah, they were a bit wheelie prone. This happened due to a fuelling mistake and wrote the aircraft off.

Yes, this one was being defuelled at the time, after having been filled to the gunnels for leak checks. The VC10s that were built for the RAF had additional fuel tanks in the fin (like the later Super VC10s).

All would be well as long as the fuel in the fin tank was balanced by at least as much in the centre tank, but this particular aircraft had a u/s fin fuel gauge which was reading zero despite it still containing around 6 tons of fuel, with predictable results.

 

[Bristolian]

A variety of airplane photos:
A380 departing Heathrow -

Avro Lancaster -

A couple from the Shuttleworth Collection. First a Westland Lynx performing its party trick -

Then a Fairey Swordfish taxiing for take-off -

Finally, a couple of helicopters from RMAS Yeovilton overflying RSPB Ham Wall. First a Merlin -

And then a Wildcat -

 

[Drago]

Did you know that John Travolta was the first non-test pilot to fly an A380?
It's not been stated who's face when was wearing at the time.

 

[rogerzilla]

An Airbus Beluga flew into and out of Heathrow yesterday for the first time. It's amazing that just two engines can get it airborne.

 

[DaveReading]

An Airbus Beluga flew into and out of Heathrow yesterday for the first time. It's amazing that just two engines can get it airborne.

And it's subject to the same rules as passenger airliners, so if an engine fails after V1 during takeoff, the remaining one can get it airborne.

 

[gbb]

An Airbus Beluga flew into and out of Heathrow yesterday for the first time. It's amazing that just two engines can get it airborne.

All (afaik) the new generation of long haul aircraft are 2 engines nowadays, hence the demise of Jumbos and the like. They are so powerful and efficient (compared to) engines of 20, 30 years ago, so reliable that 4 engines are no longer deemed necessary even for aircraft that have effectively replaced 747s etc.

 

[Drago]

Although for all that the US do t like flying their presidents on twin jets. It's speculated that in another 25 or 30 years when the incoming 747s need replacing they'll have to modify a military 4 engined bird for the task.

 

[rogerzilla]

They could modify a B-52 and double the fun.