Why Can’t Airplanes Fly in Space?

The typical cruising altitude for commercial airplanes is about 31,000 to 35,000 feet.  Whether it’s a small Cessna or jumbo-sized A320, nearly all commercial airplanes stay within this range except when taking off or landing. As a result, you might … Read More

Why Do Airplanes Have Headlights?

While the exact number varies, there are typically around 8,000 to 20,000 airplanes in the air at any given time. Some of these flights occur during the daytime, whereas others occur at night. For nighttime flights, airplanes use headlights — … Read More

Why Are Some Airplanes Sprayed With the Water As They Land?

It’s not uncommon for airplanes to pass under and between two highly pressurized water streams on the runway after landing. With medium- and large-sized commercial airplanes, this is particularly common. If you’re an avid flier, you’ve probably seen water jets … Read More

Exploring the 4 Forces of Flight

Airplanes have revolutionized the way in which we travel. At any given time, statistics show there are roughly 5,000 commercial airplanes in the air. While some of these flights are short, connecting two or more cities within the same country, … Read More

Why It’s So Easy to Fall Asleep on an Airplane

Do you tend to fall asleep when flying? Whether it’s a domestic or international flight, most passengers will agree that it’s easy to fall asleep on airplanes — and this fatigue can stay with you long after you land. But … Read More

Do Private Jets Fly Higher Than Commercial Jets?

Both commercial jets and private jets are characterized by the use of one or more jet engines. This is in stark contrast to propeller-powered airplanes, which feature one or more propellers to create propulsion. With that said, there are some … Read More

Boeing Performs Parachute Test for Starliner

Boeing has successfully completed a parachute test for its Starliner crew capsule. On May 10, 2019, the aerospace manufacturing company shared a video on its Twitter account. In the video, a Starliner capsule is shown falling to Earth under the … Read More

Why Airplanes Use Kerosene Rather Than Plain Gasoline for Fuel

From small airplanes like the Cessna to large twin-engine jets like the Airbus A380, all combustion-powered airplanes require fuel to operate. Like combustion-powered automobiles, they burn fuel to create the power needed to achieve and maintain a safe flying speed. … Read More

What Happens When An Airplane Stalls?

Even if you’re unfamiliar with aviation mechanics, you’ve probably heard the word “stall” before. From small single-engine rotary airplanes to massive twin- or four-engine commercial jets, stalling is a problem to which all airplanes are susceptible. During flight, an unexpected … Read More