Ask questions about aviation!

[Greater Somoiland]

Also if you’re interested I just made a forum post for a logo competition

Uh.. I can’t see it.

Sorry, I think something happened with it. I'll remake it

Edit: This is the remade version

[Crookfur]

how good is royal air maroc?

judging by the recent reviews on tripadvisor?

not good, not good at all.

[Ethensia]

Hey Somoiland, I saw a C-17 Globemaster of the USAF at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Australia

[The Union of Galaxies]

How hard is it to obtain a pilot's licence? Does it work globally, or you have to obtain in in different jurisdictions like a driver's?

[Greater Somoiland]

Hey Somoiland, I saw a C-17 Globemaster of the USAF at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Australia
(Image)

That’s awesome! Puts into perspective just how huge this plane is

How hard is it to obtain a pilot's licence? Does it work globally, or you have to obtain in in different jurisdictions like a driver's?

I’d assume it works globally, otherwise it’d be hard for commercial pilots. It would probably be a National civil aviation agency, like the FAA. Also I don’t wanna speak for other people but it is definitely hard to get a pilots license. I’d think it’s worth it tho. Unfortunately, I’ll never be able to fly, since I have colorblindness and ADHD. Of course the only person in Houston who’s actually obsessed with planes has the only 2 disorders that prevent you from flying. But life is life

[Moltian]

How building fly?

[Greater Somoiland]

How building fly?

I don’t know how to answer your question. Give your mommy your phone back please

[Greater Somoiland]

Alright I have a question. Is there a set weight limit for a wing? Could wings, in theory, just load indefinitely (this is of course excluding structural issues). I’ve read that max takeoff weights for planes is determined by runway length in reality. Is that true or no?

[Kirmizistan]

Alright I have a question. Is there a set weight limit for a wing? Could wings, in theory, just load indefinitely (this is of course excluding structural issues). I’ve read that max takeoff weights for planes is determined by runway length in reality. Is that true or no?

Logically, yes. Every plane's wing structure build and planed as it can fly with maximum takeoff weight. That's why they looking at runway length.
Also yes, there's a wing limit called as wing loading.

[Greater Somoiland]

Alright I have a question. Is there a set weight limit for a wing? Could wings, in theory, just load indefinitely (this is of course excluding structural issues). I’ve read that max takeoff weights for planes is determined by runway length in reality. Is that true or no?

Logically, yes. Every plane's wing structure build and planed as it can fly with maximum takeoff weight. That's why they looking at runway length.
Also yes, there's a wing limit called as wing loading.

I know what wing loading is. It’s the reason STOLs bounce around in the wind and commercial planes don’t. But I’m looking purely at a weight test. Like in a wind tunnel test, as long as you have enough speed to get enough lift to get the weight airborne, it wouldn’t be a problem, right?

[Kirmizistan]

Logically, yes. Every plane's wing structure build and planed as it can fly with maximum takeoff weight. That's why they looking at runway length.
Also yes, there's a wing limit called as wing loading.

I know what wing loading is. It’s the reason STOLs bounce around in the wind and commercial planes don’t. But I’m looking purely at a weight test. Like in a wind tunnel test, as long as you have enough speed to get enough lift to get the weight airborne, it wouldn’t be a problem, right?

With enough lift, answer likely yes. It's all about design i think.
I check is there's anything like testing wing for weight tests, and no there's nothing like this.

[Trennland]

Alright I have a question. Is there a set weight limit for a wing? Could wings, in theory, just load indefinitely (this is of course excluding structural issues). I’ve read that max takeoff weights for planes is determined by runway length in reality. Is that true or no?

Runway length is a part of the equation, but only a part. How much lift a given wing shape produces at a given air pressure and angle of attack is determined by its airspeed; the longer the runway is, the more time you've got to accelerate up to a flyable airspeed before you go off the end of the runway and into the bushes. However, aircraft also have maximum airspeeds, beyond which extending the runway won't allow them to accelerate any further. If an aircraft is so heavily-loaded that its weight exceeds the total lift produced at maximum airspeed, it won't be able to take off no matter how long the runway is.

[Crookfur]

How hard is it to obtain a pilot's licence? Does it work globally, or you have to obtain in in different jurisdictions like a driver's?

Not hugely for a PPL (private pilots license) provided you can match the medical certification.

It is expensive though, you need a minimum of 40 (CAA) or 45 (EASA) fight hours before you can sit your test and with each flight hour costing in the 200-300usd region plus your ground school training and books means minimum.cost is about 10,000usd. From what I've read most pilots really need around 50-55 hours to be ready for thier test.

Obviously adding classification endorsements (multi engine, high performance and complex ), type and commercial ratings only gets more expensive at each stage.

Licenses aren't automatically valid world wide as a lot depends on the issuing authority and thier requirements but by and large if your national civil aviation authority works to EASA standards then your license would be accepted just sbout anywhere.

[Phobos Drilling and Manufacturing]

What are your top 3 favorite aircraft?

Mien would be the YF-23, the SR-71, and the HO-229

[Japuile]

Is there such a thing as too big an airport for planes?

[Greater Somoiland]

Ok, I’m also having trouble understanding induced drag. I can’t tell whether it’s due to wingtip vortices or the after affect of the downwash or something else

Is there such a thing as too big an airport for planes?

In a way. I know what you’re trying to say, and no, they’re not gonna give landing slots to a Cessna rather than an A350.

What are your top 3 favorite aircraft?

Mien would be the YF-23, the SR-71, and the HO-229

Mine changes depending on which one I read about. I’d say F-15, F/A-18, and probably B-1B Lancer. Yours are interesting picks

Alright I have a question. Is there a set weight limit for a wing? Could wings, in theory, just load indefinitely (this is of course excluding structural issues). I’ve read that max takeoff weights for planes is determined by runway length in reality. Is that true or no?

Runway length is a part of the equation, but only a part. How much lift a given wing shape produces at a given air pressure and angle of attack is determined by its airspeed; the longer the runway is, the more time you've got to accelerate up to a flyable airspeed before you go off the end of the runway and into the bushes. However, aircraft also have maximum airspeeds, beyond which extending the runway won't allow them to accelerate any further. If an aircraft is so heavily-loaded that its weight exceeds the total lift produced at maximum airspeed, it won't be able to take off no matter how long the runway is.

Ok. This was of course, assuming the wing doesn’t have a speed limit or any of the technical stuff. It was purely theoretical

[Greater Somoiland]

Ok I figured out how induced drag works. Also if any of y’all are really interested in planes consider visiting my region please!

[Greater Somoiland]

Ok I have a question! We all know turboprops can pump out lots of horsepower. And we know that supersonic propellers are inefficient. Well, if that’s the case, why don’t we see turboprops powering twin propellors. Think a Tu-95 except the blades aren’t contra-rotating and are separate. I think if you could have twin subsonic propellers, that should produce more power that could lift higher loads off the ground

[Trennland]

Ok I have a question! We all know turboprops can pump out lots of horsepower. And we know that supersonic propellers are inefficient. Well, if that’s the case, why don’t we see turboprops powering twin propellors. Think a Tu-95 except the blades aren’t contra-rotating and are separate. I think if you could have twin subsonic propellers, that should produce more power that could lift higher loads off the ground

It's usually much more economical to build multiple smaller engines, each driving its own propeller, than it is to build one mondo-huge engine driving many propellers. You don't need all the complicated and heavy gearing to split power between multiple propellers, saving both weight and maintenance hours. Multiple small engines are also safer thanks to the added redundancy; if one engine fails, you can still fly with the remaining engines.

If you must couple multiple propellers to one engine, it's most efficient to arrange them as contra-rotating propellers (which is why the Tu-95 uses them).

[Greater Somoiland]

Ok I have a question! We all know turboprops can pump out lots of horsepower. And we know that supersonic propellers are inefficient. Well, if that’s the case, why don’t we see turboprops powering twin propellors. Think a Tu-95 except the blades aren’t contra-rotating and are separate. I think if you could have twin subsonic propellers, that should produce more power that could lift higher loads off the ground

It's usually much more economical to build multiple smaller engines, each driving its own propeller, than it is to build one mondo-huge engine driving many propellers. You don't need all the complicated and heavy gearing to split power between multiple propellers, saving both weight and maintenance hours. Multiple small engines are also safer thanks to the added redundancy; if one engine fails, you can still fly with the remaining engines.

If you must couple multiple propellers to one engine, it's most efficient to arrange them as contra-rotating propellers (which is why the Tu-95 uses them).

I thought contra-rotating propellers were less efficient than a twin prop arrangement

[Oddernia]

How do you think lower gravity would impact the design of aircraft? My nation is on a planet with a surface gravity of 0.68 g, and I'd assumed that lower gravity would allow for larger and perhaps even faster aircraft, though I don't know the exact specifics.

[Greater Somoiland]

How do you think lower gravity would impact the design of aircraft? My nation is on a planet with a surface gravity of 0.68 g, and I'd assumed that lower gravity would allow for larger and perhaps even faster aircraft, though I don't know the exact specifics.

It’s actually counterintuitive. Planes rely on pressure to generate downwash to generate lift. The lower the gravity, the lower the atmospheric pressure. Less pressure = less lift. So a plane in your planet would actually have lower carrying capacity. Planes would get faster tho, but the engines would also struggle to generate thrust because of the low atmosphere. It’s really counterintuitive actually

[Oddernia]

It’s actually counterintuitive. Planes rely on pressure to generate downwash to generate lift. The lower the gravity, the lower the atmospheric pressure. Less pressure = less lift. So a plane in your planet would actually have lower carrying capacity. Planes would get faster tho, but the engines would also struggle to generate thrust because of the low atmosphere. It’s really counterintuitive actually

Very interesting, thank you. Do you think that with lower carrying capacity that planes would end up being a less important mode of transport, or would the faster speeds make up for reduced capacity?

[Greater Somoiland]

It’s actually counterintuitive. Planes rely on pressure to generate downwash to generate lift. The lower the gravity, the lower the atmospheric pressure. Less pressure = less lift. So a plane in your planet would actually have lower carrying capacity. Planes would get faster tho, but the engines would also struggle to generate thrust because of the low atmosphere. It’s really counterintuitive actually

Very interesting, thank you. Do you think that with lower carrying capacity that planes would end up being a less important mode of transport, or would the faster speeds make up for reduced capacity?

Planes would be smaller, and airlines would probably have a larger fleet of planes. Also helicopters probably wouldn’t be a thing

[Oddernia]

Also helicopters probably wouldn’t be a thing

Why do you say that?