Which engine is more financially economical to operate, a turboprop or gasoline engine?

I've seen a discussion about this somewhere before. I'm aware that there's no real way to calculate this. So rather then comparing weight and volume for efficiency, let's compare prices. Which engine is more economical to operate? What price will get you further along?(sorry in advance if the answers depend on weight or volume).Question from user Mateo at aviation.stackexchange.com.Answer:Up to about 450 horsepower, piston engines are more economical for the typical use model (short hops, slow speeds, unpressurized aircraft, low gross weights). . . . [More]

Which engine is more financially economical to operate, a turboprop or gasoline engine?

I've seen a discussion about this somewhere before. I'm aware that there's no real way to calculate this. So rather then comparing weight and volume for efficiency, let's compare prices. Which engine is more economical to operate? What price will get you further along?(sorry in advance if the answers depend on weight or volume).Question from user Mateo at aviation.stackexchange.com.Answer:Up to about 450 horsepower, piston engines are more economical for the typical use model (short hops, slow speeds, unpressurized aircraft, low gross weights). . . . [More]

What was the first law requiring licensing or certification for pilots?

What was the first law passed by a government (e.g. not a private organization's policy) requiring some kind of licensing or certifications for civilian pilots? What was the first law requiring licensing or certification for pilots? Connecticut, a pioneer State for aviation, passed an act on June 8, 1911 to regulate aircraft registration, identification, and pilot licensing: "An Act concerning the Registration, Numbering, and Use of Air Ships, and the Licensing of Operators thereof. The Connecticut statute was the world’ . . . [More]

What was the first law requiring licensing or certification for pilots?

What was the first law passed by a government (e.g. not a private organization's policy) requiring some kind of licensing or certifications for civilian pilots? What was the first law requiring licensing or certification for pilots? Connecticut, a pioneer State for aviation, passed an act on June 8, 1911 to regulate aircraft registration, identification, and pilot licensing: "An Act concerning the Registration, Numbering, and Use of Air Ships, and the Licensing of Operators thereof. The Connecticut statute was the world’ . . . [More]

Did WW2 Bombers have shock-absorbed pilot seats?

I'm trying to figure out if the cockpit seats for WW2 bombers had any kind of shock-absorption, or were they fixed rigidly to the airframe? This picture is from a B-24. There are clearly enough pivot points and sliders there to allow for movement, but is that movement just to allow different pilots to adjust the seat, or is that shock-absorption? Similarly with this picture from a B-17, there is enough mechanical stuff connected to the back of the seat, but I haven't been able to get a good enough picture to actually determine wha . . . [More]

Did WW2 Bombers have shock-absorbed pilot seats?

I'm trying to figure out if the cockpit seats for WW2 bombers had any kind of shock-absorption, or were they fixed rigidly to the airframe? This picture is from a B-24. There are clearly enough pivot points and sliders there to allow for movement, but is that movement just to allow different pilots to adjust the seat, or is that shock-absorption? Similarly with this picture from a B-17, there is enough mechanical stuff connected to the back of the seat, but I haven't been able to get a good enough picture to actually determine wha . . . [More]

Help identifying small low-flying aircraft over western US?

Have spotted this aircraft flying over the western U.S. more than once this July: a couple of times in early July north of Spokane, WA, and today over the Silicon Valley area. All times it was flying very low, but was relatively quiet for how close to the ground it was. It appears to have two propellers on each wing and is a plain gray, which makes me think it may be military. My searches for military aircraft that fit this description have come up blank though. Any help with identification is appreciated!.Blurry photo below is the best I was a . . . [More]

Help identifying small low-flying aircraft over western US?

Have spotted this aircraft flying over the western U.S. more than once this July: a couple of times in early July north of Spokane, WA, and today over the Silicon Valley area. All times it was flying very low, but was relatively quiet for how close to the ground it was. It appears to have two propellers on each wing and is a plain gray, which makes me think it may be military. My searches for military aircraft that fit this description have come up blank though. Any help with identification is appreciated!.Blurry photo below is the best I was a . . . [More]

Does glide ratio improve with increase in scale?

Will the same glider have higher glide ratio if its bigger in proportion or smaller in proportion? It depends. If you simply scale an aircraft up and down, most of the aerodynamics behave the same (or at least approximately so). In order to get perfect scaling behavior, you need to match Mach and Reynolds number. This is our clue to the answer. Gliders will likely be relatively slow, so we can consider them to operate in incompressible flow and we can ignore any Mach effects. As you increase the aircraft's scale, Reynolds num . . . [More]

Does glide ratio improve with increase in scale?

Will the same glider have higher glide ratio if its bigger in proportion or smaller in proportion? It depends. If you simply scale an aircraft up and down, most of the aerodynamics behave the same (or at least approximately so). In order to get perfect scaling behavior, you need to match Mach and Reynolds number. This is our clue to the answer. Gliders will likely be relatively slow, so we can consider them to operate in incompressible flow and we can ignore any Mach effects. As you increase the aircraft's scale, Reynolds num . . . [More]

How to find altimeter settings for higher altitudes?

I am trying to calculate cruise performance, but how would I find the altimeter setting for a given altitude? I’ve looked at charts but they only show altimeter settings for the surface. Would I use the alt settings at the surface and subtract an inch per thousand feet, or does this only apply in std conditions and if it does how would I find that altimeter setting so that I can calculate cruise performance.. There's no such thing as an "altimeter setting for a given altitude." You use the same altimeter setting all . . . [More]

How to find altimeter settings for higher altitudes?

I am trying to calculate cruise performance, but how would I find the altimeter setting for a given altitude? I’ve looked at charts but they only show altimeter settings for the surface. Would I use the alt settings at the surface and subtract an inch per thousand feet, or does this only apply in std conditions and if it does how would I find that altimeter setting so that I can calculate cruise performance.. There's no such thing as an "altimeter setting for a given altitude." You use the same altimeter setting all . . . [More]

Why wasnt MH-17 flying at 33,000ft before it entered Ukrainian airspace?

looking at the path of the MH-17 flight that crashed in the Ukraine on FlightRadar24 and noticed it was flying at (31,000ft), then because of the Ukrainian NOTAM which went up to FL320 (32,000ft) and below, it then ascended to FL330. Why wouldn't it be flying at FL330 (33,000) already from the start? Doesn't a higher altitude mean less air resistance (because the air is thinner) and therefore better fuel efficiency? This is normal. A 777 on the AMS-KUL route cannot climb to FL330 (33,000) right after takeoff - this would o . . . [More]

Why wasnt MH-17 flying at 33,000ft before it entered Ukrainian airspace?

looking at the path of the MH-17 flight that crashed in the Ukraine on FlightRadar24 and noticed it was flying at (31,000ft), then because of the Ukrainian NOTAM which went up to FL320 (32,000ft) and below, it then ascended to FL330. Why wouldn't it be flying at FL330 (33,000) already from the start? Doesn't a higher altitude mean less air resistance (because the air is thinner) and therefore better fuel efficiency? This is normal. A 777 on the AMS-KUL route cannot climb to FL330 (33,000) right after takeoff - this would o . . . [More]

How does a fighter pilot calculate approach - landing speeds?

Let's say an F/A-18C returns to land after expending some payload. Fuel burned and weapons released made the plane lighter. With this information, does the pilot use a chart or computer to calculate the correct speed for landing or is there a rule of thumb? In the F-4, we had a base speed to use for each aircraft landing configuration, to which we would add 2 knots for each 1000 pounds of fuel. If we still had any significant external stores hanging on the plane we would treat as that as additional fuel. But when we were actually flyi . . . [More]

How does a fighter pilot calculate approach - landing speeds?

Let's say an F/A-18C returns to land after expending some payload. Fuel burned and weapons released made the plane lighter. With this information, does the pilot use a chart or computer to calculate the correct speed for landing or is there a rule of thumb? In the F-4, we had a base speed to use for each aircraft landing configuration, to which we would add 2 knots for each 1000 pounds of fuel. If we still had any significant external stores hanging on the plane we would treat as that as additional fuel. But when we were actually flyi . . . [More]

Which aircraft have fought against its own type in active combat?

The criteria for this question are .The aircraft has to be the same type (but not necessarily the same mark).The two opposing sides are actively hostile; but not restricted to nation states (so civil war a possibility).The aircraft treat each other as an active threat .Cloned aircraft count, e.g. Tu-4 / B-29 or J8M / Me163 (neither of these occurred as far as I know).It's difficult to see circumstances in which it would happen; but in over 100 years of air combat I think it likely to have occurred at some point.Question from user Party Ark at a . . . [More]

Which aircraft have fought against its own type in active combat?

The criteria for this question are .The aircraft has to be the same type (but not necessarily the same mark).The two opposing sides are actively hostile; but not restricted to nation states (so civil war a possibility).The aircraft treat each other as an active threat .Cloned aircraft count, e.g. Tu-4 / B-29 or J8M / Me163 (neither of these occurred as far as I know).It's difficult to see circumstances in which it would happen; but in over 100 years of air combat I think it likely to have occurred at some point.Question from user Party Ark at a . . . [More]

Are there any stall warning apps available?

Recently I was flying a 500ft circuit, when in the downwind leg I felt a buffeting, when I looked at my ASI, to my horror, I was at stall speed.I recovered without incident, (recover might be an exaggeration, I don't think the stall developed), but it got me wondering, is there any app available (or can you add to SkyDemon) a stall warning alarm? Obviously the tablet can't detect AoA, so it would just be based on your speed vs stall speed, which you would need to set.If not, what other options are there? This is in a C42.To clarify, the Ikarus . . . [More]

Are there any stall warning apps available?

Recently I was flying a 500ft circuit, when in the downwind leg I felt a buffeting, when I looked at my ASI, to my horror, I was at stall speed.I recovered without incident, (recover might be an exaggeration, I don't think the stall developed), but it got me wondering, is there any app available (or can you add to SkyDemon) a stall warning alarm? Obviously the tablet can't detect AoA, so it would just be based on your speed vs stall speed, which you would need to set.If not, what other options are there? This is in a C42.To clarify, the Ikarus . . . [More]