How High Can Airplanes Really Fly?

Commercial airplanes are designed to fly at specific altitudes. After taking off, it may take a pilot just 10 minutes to reach this “cruising” altitude. The pilot will then maintain this altitude until he or she prepares to land. From … Read More

FAA Gives SpaceX the Green Light to Test Its Startship Spacecraft

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given SpaceX authorization to test its Starship spacecraft. With this authorization, SpaceX can begin suborbital flights by launching its Starship prototype from its launchpad in Boca Chica, Texas. Assuming the test is a … Read More

SpaceX Completes Historic Manned Mission of Crew Dragon Capsule

Thanks to SpaceX, there are now two NASA astronauts working aboard the International State Space (ISS). On May 30, the private aerospace manufacturing company successfully sent NASA astronauts to Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS using its Crew … Read More

The British Airlander 10: A Look at the World’s Largest Aircraft

Ever wonder what the world’s largest aircraft is? That accolade goes to the Hybrid Air Vehicle (HAV) 3014/Airlander 10. Developed in 2012, it towers above all other types of aircraft. As shown in the image to the left, the Airlander … Read More

Delta Air Lines to Retire the MD-80 and MD-90

The reign of the once-popular McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and MD-90 jets is coming to an end. Earlier this month, the United States’s third-largest airline announced that it was retiring both MD series. Delta Air Lines says it will fly the … Read More

What Is the ‘Ground Effect’ and How Does It Affect Airplanes?

If you’ve ever watched airplanes land at an airport, you may recall the graceful way in which they glide down to the runway. They don’t just drop the sky. Rather, airplanes land by gradually descending while simultaneously lowering their altitude. … Read More

NASA Says SpaceX and Boeing Outsourcing Will Save $30 Billion

NASA is expecting to save some serious dough thanks to its partnerships with SpaceX and Boeing. The government-run space agency recently announced that the partnerships will save it an estimated $20 billion to $30 billion — along with other benefits. … Read More

What Is an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) in Airplanes?

Airplanes consume a substantial amount of energy during flight. Not all of this energy, however, is spent on powering the engines. Airplanes consume energy to power all their electronic devices, including cabin lights, exterior lights, cockpit controls and more. Thankfully, … Read More

Boeing to Restart Manufacturing of 737 MAX

Boeing is expected to restart the manufacturing of its 737 MAX jet by the end of the month, signaling the start of a revival for the company’s once-troubled airliner. The fourth generation of the 737 family, the 737 MAX is … Read More