Airplanes

Airbus began 49 years ago and manufactures some of today’s most popular aircraft. But Airbus have made less than 20 different civilian aircraft, so why do they all begin with 300? The first Airbus was flown in 1974. Since then the Airbus fleet has travelled over 215 billion kilometres (enough distance to travel to the

It should come as no surprise that North American-based Boeing manufactures some big airplanes. Since the maiden flight of its venerable 747 in the late 1960s, Boeing has been hitting the runway with big planes. The current version of the 747, the 747-8, is at the head of the pack. So, which is bigger, Boeing

For passengers, one of the greatest mysteries is how airplanes know how high they are. After all, the third-dimension of flying is what sets it apart from all other modes of transportation. How do airplanes measure altitude and who else cares how far they are from the ground? How Do Pilots Know Their Altitude? The

Fighter jets often have fuel stored behind the pilot’s seat, but big airliners like the B747 store massive amounts of fuel in their wings. So what is the benefit of having fuel stored in the wings of an aircraft? And does it pose any risks to safety? Why is Fuel Stored in the Wings? There

Have you ever wondered how a machine that was meant to fly is able to get you from point A to point B on an airport’s surface? Whether you’re flying on a Boeing 737 or a Cessna 172, turning on the ground will be included at some point on your next flight. How Do Planes

Wind plays an important role in flying. But what exactly is the relationship between wind and wings? Is it a happy marriage or are take-offs into wind dangerous? Do Planes Take Off Into The Wind? Aircraft don’t have to take off into wind, but it does help! Taking off into wind gives aircraft an extra

Japan is a leading force in the cause of peace today, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an impressive array of fighter jets. As one of the best in the world when it comes to aeronautical engineering, Japan has been able to develop, adapt, and buy some of the world’s best jets. Here are

Have you ever sat on an airliner and wondered where the power comes from? Everything is electric, from the reading lights to the entertainment screens. It’s relatively easy to see how the enormous turbine engines produce thrust. But the power and hot air produced by those Jet-A guzzling monsters are used to power many onboard

For years fighter jets were required to have two engines. That recently changed with the development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The most advanced fighter jet in the world is a single engine plane again. Is one engine better after all? The first fighter jets were powered by single engines designed for air-to-air combat

If there is one name that’s been dominating military aircraft development the last few decades, it is Lockheed Martin. Surprisingly though, the list of fighter jets made by the company is not all that long. Only 9 aircraft made it onto this list. Lockheed Martin is an aerospace, military support, security, and advanced technologies company