Ask questions about aviation!

[Aircraft Enthusiast]

If you have a question about aviation, feel free to ask here. You can also come to the region Aircraft Enthusiast if you want to discuss aviation-related topics in our RMB

[Greater Somoiland]

Well I guess I’ll be asking the first question. Why do long range planes have more engines than short range ones? I get bigger planes have more fuel but couldn’t they just solve that with wider turbofans? Planes like the 747 and A340 are super-long-rangers, yet they have 4 tiny engines when it should be more efficient to just have 2 large turbofans

[Japuile]

How can you realistically describe your airline if I've never done something like that? The most important thing is that my country is really green - I have a battery, solar panels and wind turbines better than my entire region. If it was not possible to electrify planes, I still have biofuel.

[HarYan]

Opinion on the JAS 39 Gripen E/F?

[Crookfur]

Well I guess I’ll be asking the first question. Why do long range planes have more engines than short range ones? I get bigger planes have more fuel but couldn’t they just solve that with wider turbofans? Planes like the 747 and A340 are super-long-rangers, yet they have 4 tiny engines when it should be more efficient to just have 2 large turbofans

The short answer until the 2000/2010s is ETOPS.

Basically when a twin engine aircraft loses and engine it loses 50% of it thrust whilst a quad engine only loses 25%. Thus in an engine out scenario a quad jet can maintain a higher cruising speed and thus can travel further to reach a diversion airport within the 2-3 hour typical diversion time aircraft are certified for.
Thus quad jets are typically able to fly more direct routes over water rather having to stay closer to airports along the way.
It's only recently that twinjets have been able to match this and naturally the quads went out of production when the long range 777s and A350s came along (well apart from the A380 but it uses 4 of what we're the largest engines at the time, which was kind of also the case for the 747 on its launch).

The long answer is basically the same but with all the wonderful engineering details of the projects. The 747 launched with the industry standard engine and received newer engines over the years. The A340 used 4 trend 500s because its sibling, the A330 already used 2 of the largest available engines (trent 700s) and couldn't match the A340 requirements.
Yes I know the airbuses don't just use the RR trent series but I'll be damned if I can remember the umpteen CFM and GE options.

[Greater Somoiland]

Well I guess I’ll be asking the first question. Why do long range planes have more engines than short range ones? I get bigger planes have more fuel but couldn’t they just solve that with wider turbofans? Planes like the 747 and A340 are super-long-rangers, yet they have 4 tiny engines when it should be more efficient to just have 2 large turbofans

The short answer until the 2000/2010s is ETOPS.

Basically when a twin engine aircraft loses and engine it loses 50% of it thrust whilst a quad engine only loses 25%. Thus in an engine out scenario a quad jet can maintain a higher cruising speed and thus can travel further to reach a diversion airport within the 2-3 hour typical diversion time aircraft are certified for.
Thus quad jets are typically able to fly more direct routes over water rather having to stay closer to airports along the way.
It's only recently that twinjets have been able to match this and naturally the quads went out of production when the long range 777s and A350s came along (well apart from the A380 but it uses 4 of what we're the largest engines at the time, which was kind of also the case for the 747 on its launch).

The long answer is basically the same but with all the wonderful engineering details of the projects. The 747 launched with the industry standard engine and received newer engines over the years. The A340 used 4 trend 500s because its sibling, the A330 already used 2 of the largest available engines (trent 700s) and couldn't match the A340 requirements.
Yes I know the airbuses don't just use the RR trent series but I'll be damned if I can remember the umpteen CFM and GE options.

Interesting! Always wondered why but never considered engine loss requirements. I’d still make mine a twin engine tho

Opinion on the JAS 39 Gripen E/F?

Swedes make damn good planes. Great low-cost alternative for a nation looking to expand fighter capability. Of course, not as good as a stealth fighter, but for the cost it’s great

How can you realistically describe your airline if I've never done something like that? The most important thing is that my country is really green - I have a battery, solar panels and wind turbines better than my entire region. If it was not possible to electrify planes, I still have biofuel.

Japuile-Green Air is the best I could come up with. Search up Airbus zero emission if you wanna see plane examples

[Greater Somoiland]

Thoughts on a hypothetical supersonic transport?

[Greater Somoiland]

If you’re seeing this forum and you’re interested in planes, please don’t pass it by. I want to create a community here, and anyone who’s reading this could be a part of it. I need people in my region. We’ll have things to keep you interested in planes. Plane concept competitions, polls about new plane designs, well even hold a plane question of the day. But please don’t pass by. We need you. I need you

[Neonian Technocracy]

question:
can we replace the wings of an airplane with rockets like the ones of sci-fi movies?

[Mushroom Gorge]

You should make this thread look cooler, right now it's a little plane.

[Greater Somoiland]

You should make this thread look cooler, right now it's a little plane.

How could I make it cooler?

question:
can we replace the wings of an airplane with rockets like the ones of sci-fi movies?

If you had the right control systems and the right rockets, yes. But it would be very impractical and useless. Don’t believe anything about aviation that’s in movies

[Newplym]

You should make this thread look cooler, right now it's a little plane.

How could I make it cooler?

Add more fins, they are great for heat dissipation!

[Greater Somoiland]

How could I make it cooler?

Add more fins, they are great for heat dissipation!

You into rockets and missiles? Our region accepts rocket enthusiasts

[Mushroom Gorge]

Add more fins, they are great for heat dissipation!

You into rockets and missiles? Our region accepts rocket enthusiasts

I like thermonuclear bombs

[Greater Somoiland]

You into rockets and missiles? Our region accepts rocket enthusiasts

I like thermonuclear bombs

What about nuclear engines and nuclear-powered planes?

[Greater Somoiland]

Does anyone have any questions they want to ask? Cuz rn the only question in my mind is why no one is interested in planes

[Bayerischer Nationalstaat]

Hm.

[Ethensia]

Does anyone have any questions they want to ask? Cuz rn the only question in my mind is why no one is interested in planes

I am!


I wonder why we have to stow our tray tables during landing and takeoff, and we have to put our window covers up during those times too? Last time I heard that was when I was on a Jetstar Airbus-A321 from Melbourne to Sydney.

[Greater Somoiland]

Does anyone have any questions they want to ask? Cuz rn the only question in my mind is why no one is interested in planes

I am!


I wonder why we have to stow our tray tables during landing and takeoff, and we have to put our window covers up during those times too? Last time I heard that was when I was on a Jetstar Airbus-A321 from Melbourne to Sydney.

I’m not 100% sure, but I think the reason for the tray tables is because they would rattle against the seats and just make a lot of noise. Also I’m sure they pose a safety risk in a potential crash. As for windows, I’d think it’s because of cabin lighting, but to be honest I’ve never heard about putting window covers up for takeoff and landing

[Al-Momenta]

If you were a plane, what plane would you be?

[Greater Somoiland]

If you were a plane, what plane would you be?

An F-15 Eagle or F/A-18 Hornet. Or maybe an F-22 Raptor. The F/A-18 excels as multi role, and if I was in combat I might want that. The F-15 Eagle has the highest kill ratio of any plane, ever. With 104 kills and no losses in combat, it would be great in aerial combat if I have to face up against anyone. In F-22 Raptor on the other hand would be fun to fly around in, fun to pull off stunts with, and just fun in general

[Te Netherlands]

What is your favorite commercial aircraft?

[Ethensia]

Is the plane on your flag an F-15 Strike Eagle or F-14 Tomcat?

[Greater Somoiland]

What is your favorite commercial aircraft?

I would say the 777, purely for its size it’s my favorite. The fact a plane so big only needs 2 engines, and the fact those 2 engines are the most powerful in the word. I just think the 777 is overall a really cool plane

Is the plane on your flag an F-15 Strike Eagle or F-14 Tomcat?

It’s an F-15. The F-14 has swing wings, and a different windshield design that is actually very noticeable. It is a reasonable mistake tho. And also the engines on the F-15 are hiring in the fuselage, while in the F-14 they’re under the main body. Also the gun on the F-15 is placed over the engine intake, while on the F-14 it’s placed in a position underneath the left side of the cockpit

[Ethensia]

By the way, I’m having trouble identifying what this plane is:

I may be an aviation fan but this plane I took a photo of at Bacolod Silay Airport, Philippines just makes me wonder.. what is that plane?