The Sky is Calling

Have you ever wanted to become a pilot? Play my quiz to learn some of the fundamentals of aviation. Below are some interesting facts:

1. Lift is the force that raises an airplane off the ground. An airfoil creates less air pressure above the wing, causing the pressure beneath it to elevate the plane. As a plane gains speed, its lift approaches the minimum amount of gravity (weight) that is holding it down. Once its speed surpasses that threshold, it's able to fly.

2. The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was able to reach speeds in excess of 2,100 mph and elevations over 85,000 ft. These are records which have held for almost 40 years now (2014). Its high amount of titanium (85%) meant that it could withstand high temperatures using the lightest possible weight. In 1999, the plane was retired due to high operational costs.

"Silver Dollar" was coined for the North American F-100 Super Sabre: the first U.S. Air Fighter to reach supersonic speed. The Convair B-58 Hustler "Delta Queen" was the first jet bomber to reach Mach 2 flight. A red robin is, well, just a bird.

3. Howard Hughes was one of the most interesting aviators in history. He inherited his father's company and moved to Hollywood to create big-budget films like "Hells Angels" and "Scarface". In the meantime, he would design various aircraft and set new world records. His 1-B racer broke the land-speed record in 1935, moving at 352 miles per hour. Hughes also made headlines by breaking the around-the-world speed record (1938) and for designing the largest flying boat in history. He called it the Hercules, but much to his dismay the media dubbed it the "Spruce Goose".

Hughes was notorious for his eccentric behavior and suffered from severe germophobia. He became a reclusive billionaire after crash-landing a plane he'd built into a Hollywood neighborhood. Nobody was killed in the crash, but Hughes was injured in the event. His antics are well represented in the 2004 film "Aviatior", played by Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorcese.

4. Avionics are collectively known as the intelligence behind an airplane. Radar and NEXRAD provide data for local weather, while GPS is commonly used as a navigational aid. Other types of avionics include communications, autopilot controls, transponders, and black boxes. Transponders alert pilots of other aircraft nearby, and black boxes record audio from the cockpit in the event of a crash.

"Aeronomic" is an adjective describing the study of the upper atmosphere.

5. Amphibious planes were named as such because they spend their "lives" in water and on land. Also known as seaplanes, they have hydrofoils and retractable wheels to provide for lift-off on both types of surfaces. They are usually heavier and cost more to make. Popular amphibious planes include the Republic RC-3 Seabee and the Beriev Be-200.

6. Though not used extensively, diesel engines have been experimented with ever since the 1920s. The LZ 29 Hindenberg, famous for its 1937 crash landing New Jersey, is probably the most famous diesel-powered aircraft. Its engine type is not thought to be the cause of its failure though; the cause is unknown.

7. If you've ever played Flight Simulator, think of the PFD as a combination of all the circles of data onto one screen. On most PFDs you can read altitude, speed, bearings, and trajectory. There's also a display which lets you see the angle of the plane relative to the horizon.

8. Mach 1 is defined as the speed at which sound travels- roughly 761 miles per hour. Hypersonic aircraft can go anywhere from 3840mph to 7680mph (at which point it becomes High-hypersonic at Mach 10). As of 2014, the only plane that is capable of reaching such speeds is the X-15 rocket plane, but NASA is in the process of developing scramjets which could theoretically reach them.

At Mach 6.72, the X-15 set speed and altitude records for any manned aircraft. For comparison, the Lockheed SR-71 mentioned earlier was only able to reach Mach 3.2. Due to the fact that the X-15 is powered by rockets, it is not generally considered an airplane, therefore yielding the record to the Lockheed.

9. During the Golden Age of Aviation, the Granville Brothers built a total of 23 airplanes. These included different versions of the Gee Bee, which is named from their initials. The Gee Bee is designed to fit as small a fuselage as possible around the largest possible engine. That's why it has abnormally small wings and a tiny cockpit. Its unusual structure helped it win many races and allowed daredevil pilots to perform tricks more easily, such as flying upside down around tight corners.

Of the other planes mentioned, the Fox Moth is the only real one. It was a popular passenger airplane in the 1930s.

10. Talk about World Class! Changi Airport is often rated as one of the best airports in the world. At times it almost seems more like a cruise ship than an airport. It also has a Tiki bar, a movie theatre, a fitness center, an entertainment deck, a playground, and a spa on its list of attractions. So if you're ever planning a vacation to Singapore, you might just want to stay at the airport.

Flying is truly the greatest way to travel and see the world. Pilots can see the most of amount of space in the shortest amount of time. Writing this sure made me want to go flying. I hope playing it did the same for you! 

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