# The Great Ongoing Aviation Thread (general and other) (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499 "2011-10-23T02:17:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 68
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1341 "2020-06-15T15:20:44Z")
[Flytec](http://download.naviter.com/element/alto/Flytec_Element_Alto_Manual_EN.pdf) can be configured to be m/s or ft/min > [@Flytec manual](#): > > The graphic vario shows your vertical speed (climb or sink) in metres per second, ranging from +10 m/s to -10 m/s. You may also choose feet per minute, ranging from +20 fpm x100 to -20 fpm x100. Got our first post-quarantine flight in last night; even did something most of you do all the time - landed at an airport! It was so nice to get back out there. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1342 "2020-06-16T03:44:39Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Got our first post-quarantine flight in last night; even did something most of you do all the time - landed at an airport! It was so nice to get back out there. What other kinds of places do you normally land? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1343 "2020-06-16T03:59:54Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [A little local excitement](https://myferndalenews.com/nearby-plane-ends-up-off-the-runway-at-lynden-airport_104076/): A Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG went off the runway about 10 miles from here. [A little too much excitement](http://www.kathrynsreport.com/search?q=N4116Y): About a month ago, our tow plane crashed shortly after take-off, flipped over, and caught fire. Our tow pilot got killed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1344 "2020-06-17T13:39:42Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > What other kinds of places do you normally land? [ul] [li]Schools[/li][li]Parks/fields[/li][li]Churches/Houses of worship[/li][li]Cul-de-sacs[/li][li]Front yards[/li][li][Back yards](https://www.flickr.com/photos/74663312@N08/50014967452/)[/li][li]Farms (when not planted)[/li][/ul] Pretty much anywhere with enough room to safely land & pack up. Most landowners are happy to have us, & if not, we can (usually) fly on to another LZ. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1345 "2020-06-17T14:06:04Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > What other kinds of places do you normally land? [ul] [li]Schools[/li][li]Parks/fields[/li][li]Churches/Houses of worship[/li][li]Cul-de-sacs[/li][li]Front yards[/li][li][Back yards](https://www.flickr.com/photos/74663312@N08/50014967452/)[/li][li]Farms (when not planted)[/li][/ul] Pretty much anywhere with enough room to safely land & pack up. Most landowners are happy to have us, & if not, we can (usually) fly on to another LZ. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1346 "2020-07-21T13:27:46Z")
How the Cold War created the world’s largest airplane: [The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/an-225-worlds-largest-airplane/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1347 "2020-07-22T17:21:59Z")
The Flying Tigers are still fondly remembered in China: [Flying Tigers: These Americans mercenaries were the heroes of China during World War II | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/21/asia/world-war-2-flying-tigers-intl-hnk-scli/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1348 "2020-07-31T13:10:39Z")
What the airplane cabin of the future might look like: [What the airplane cabin of the future might look like | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pandemic-airplane-cabin-intl-scli/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1349 "2020-08-04T13:52:34Z")
Virgin Atlantic makes plans for a Mach 3 passenger jet: [Virgin Galactic unveils jet design that travels three times faster than sound | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/virgin-galactic-new-supersonic-jet-design/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1350 "2020-08-22T23:49:31Z")
Was watching some videos of fire fighting planes picking up water and thought I’d share. Some brave pilots will presumably be doing this sort of thing in California right now. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cHuoXD_VmBs/maxresdefault.jpg "CL-415 Canadair or Bombardier Water Bomber pick up and water drop") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHuoXD_VmBs) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1351 "2020-08-23T00:51:18Z")
Cool stuff - thanks! Is it significant that each of the propeller blades can be distinctly seen? Usually they’re just a blur. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1352 "2020-08-23T01:08:11Z")
I think that’s to do with the speed of the propellors in relation to the frame rate. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1353 "2020-08-23T04:52:28Z")
Stroboscopic effect. > **[Stroboscopic effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroboscopic_effect)** > > The stroboscopic effect is a visual phenomenon caused by aliasing that occurs when continuous rotational or other cyclic motion is represented by a series of short or instantaneous samples (as opposed to a continuous view) at a sampling rate close to the period of the motion. It accounts for the "wagon-wheel effect", so-called because in video, spoked wheels (such as on horse-drawn wagons) sometimes appear to be turning backwards. > A strobe fountain, a stream of water droplets falling at regular ... Here is an extreme example on a prop plane: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yb1XcvLBDg4/maxresdefault.jpg "Propeller strobing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb1XcvLBDg4) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1354 "2020-08-23T13:03:03Z")
Thanks - good to know! So the blade is not actually turning more slowly, your eye is just able to catch distinct views of it because of the turn rate? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1355 "2020-08-23T14:10:14Z")
[IMPROPER DISINFECTANT APPEARS TO DAMAGE TWO SKYHAWKS](https://aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/august/20/improper-disinfectant-appears-to-damage-two-skyhawks) > An aircraft renter with a distillery-produced sanitizer meant well, but improper disinfecting techniques damaged the instrument panels of two Cessna 172s at Florida’s [Atlas Aviation](https://atlasaviation.com/) and required costly repairs… > > “It affected the factory paint and to fix it, we need to completely remove every radio, all avionics, the switches, and other items, and resurface the panels,” said chief pilot Dave Presnell. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1356 "2020-08-23T14:17:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Virgin Atlantic makes plans for a Mach 3 passenger jet: [https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/virgin-galactic-new-supersonic-jet-design/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/virgin-galactic-new-supersonic-jet-design/index.html) Virgin Atlantic isn’t the same as Virgin Galactic. Easy slip to make though. It’s still all Branson(r)™, PLC. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1357 "2020-08-23T14:22:33Z")
Right you are. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1358 "2020-08-23T14:37:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Thanks - good to know! So the blade is not actually turning more slowly, your eye is just able to catch distinct views of it because of the turn rate? Correct. The frame rate of the video vs the rotation rate of the blades happens to coincidentally line up making for almost stop-motion photography. Here’s one of my favorites for that: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is0k0mCdeDk) It’s a vid of a Czech Air Force Mi-24 Hind attack helo doing an airshow demonstration. Throughout the demo you’ll see the blades barely turning. No helicopter could fly, much less maneuver aggressively, with the blades barely moving. The actual Hind has 5 equally spaced blades on the main rotor. At many points in the video you’ll see that it appears to have 5 equally spaced _pairs_ of blades close together. That’s also an illusion, when the next blade almost gets to the same spot in the rotation when the next frame is taken. Ina few spots you can watch the blade pairs merge or split; sometimes 5 blades, sometimes 10. More fun w frame rate: The rotor on a Hind rotates clockwise when viewed from above. Which means the blades are going forward on the aircraft’s left side and rearwards on the right side. In most, but not all, of this video you’ll see the blades going forward on the right side. In other words, the rotor appears to be turning backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1359 "2020-08-23T14:40:46Z")
Here’s another example, in which the blades appear to be completely stopped: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jQDjJRYmeWg/hqdefault.jpg "Helicopter flying with no blades spinning !") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQDjJRYmeWg) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/1360 "2020-08-23T14:42:47Z")
Now _that_ is freaky. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499.md?page=67) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499.md?page=69)