# What is this thing on this plane? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 10, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271 "2007-07-10T22:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/21 "2007-07-11T04:39:29Z")
[QUOTE=Ruby] As an aside, I had no idea that planes transported extra engines on the exterior of the aircraft, especially on the wing! Wouldn’t the plane tend to list to one side? [/QUOTE] It doesn’t happen much any more. Nowadays, the airlines will use a freighter that the engine will fit inside of, so the external pod is basically obsolete. It adds extra drag, so the airplane needs a bit of a trim adjustment, but that’s about it as far as listing to one side. Even on the ground, it’s close enough to the centreline that it’s not really a concern. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/22 "2007-07-11T15:34:07Z")
I used to work in the plant that made the AWACS radar. The plant made airborne and ground based radars. I worked on the airborne side. We made all of the airborne radar EXCEPT the AWACS. The AWACS was made and the ground based side of the plant. It’s basically a friggen huge ground based type of radar shoved on top of a plane. The radar for “normal” planes is usually up inside of the nose cone, like so: [http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=3683&rendTypeId=4](http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=3683&rendTypeId=4) ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/23 "2007-07-11T15:43:20Z")
In the 1920’s, that was called RADAR. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/24 "2007-07-11T16:17:20Z")
I’m told some of the parts are made in Ireland. So to differentiate parts made in Ireland from those made in the USA, the Irish parts are called O’Reilly’s. 😃 whut? ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/25 "2007-07-11T17:31:31Z")
[QUOTE=stolichnaya] In the 1920’s, that was called RADAR. [/QUOTE] For about 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/26 "2007-07-11T17:38:01Z")
I went inside an E-3 at an Air Force base open house once. The tour was fascinating. Pretty much all the airman said was “We can’t answer that.” The funniest thing was that, amongst all of that computer technology, there was a good old-fashioned sextant secured in a cubby near the door. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/27 "2007-07-11T17:41:56Z")
[QUOTE=Drum God] there was a good old-fashioned sextant secured in a cubby near the door. [/QUOTE] I think that’s for when a duck flies through your instrumentation. Are there bubble levels in the cockpit? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/28 "2007-07-11T17:48:52Z")
Just in case you were asking about the things sticking out to the side, those are called _wings_. They help the plane stay in the air when it’s not on a treadmill. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/29 "2007-07-11T18:11:50Z")
It is not RADAR. However, it’s an essential component of RADAR. Either that or a goiter. ---
**Author:** ![Crescend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Crescend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crescend)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/30 "2007-07-11T23:13:26Z")
When a [mommy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-8_Joint_STARS) radar jet and a [daddy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_Warning_and_Control_System) radar jet love each other very much, they have a [baby](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RQ-4_Global_Hawk) radar jet. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/31 "2007-07-12T00:57:34Z")
The sextant, btw, has pretty much gone by the wayside. When I went through the Air Force Nav school, we were taught celestial navigation, which required the use of the sextant you saw. You could take a shot off of the sun, moon, and/or stars. Way back when, it was a good just-in-case precaution. In this day and age, if you find yourself running to find that sextant, you’ve probably got way bigger things to worry about. Anyway, as far as I know, cel nav is no longer taught, and the sextants have been or are being phased out, depending on what platform you’re talking about. The Navy has gotten rid of them. And yes, fer chrissakes, it’s an AWACS plane. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/32 "2007-07-12T03:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=flyboy88] The sextant, btw, has pretty much gone by the wayside. When I went through the Air Force Nav school, we were taught celestial navigation, which required the use of the sextant you saw. You could take a shot off of the sun, moon, and/or stars. Way back when, it was a good just-in-case precaution. In this day and age, if you find yourself running to find that sextant, you’ve probably got way bigger things to worry about. Anyway, as far as I know, cel nav is no longer taught, and the sextants have been or are being phased out, depending on what platform you’re talking about. The Navy has gotten rid of them. And yes, fer chrissakes, it’s an AWACS plane. [/QUOTE] I had no idea. Somehow, that seems sort of sad to me. That’s like saying we don’t need to teach mental arithmetic because we have calculators for that. It seems that anyone responsible for the safe navigation of a major aircraft or ship ought to be able to navigate by the stars. Not that I’m an expert or anything. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/33 "2007-07-12T08:57:09Z")
I’m not interested in what kind of sex toys they have in the cockpit, I just want to know what the hell that weird lump is. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/34 "2007-07-12T09:28:52Z")
[QUOTE=stolichnaya] In the 1920’s, that was called RADAR. [/QUOTE] Wasn’t that originally intended to be a death ray? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/35 "2007-07-12T14:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=Drum God] I had no idea. Somehow, that seems sort of sad to me. That’s like saying we don’t need to teach mental arithmetic because we have calculators for that. It seems that anyone responsible for the safe navigation of a major aircraft or ship ought to be able to navigate by the stars. Not that I’m an expert or anything. [/QUOTE] They may be phasing them out of the military, but I know some traditional sailors who are very well skilled with a sextant. I tried it once; missed the latitude by about 20 miles (depending on who you believe, me, or that silly GPS thing). ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/36 "2007-07-12T15:29:18Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] It’s Radar, by Duran Duran. [/QUOTE] Or else _Radar Love_ by **Golden Earring** 😉 ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/37 "2007-07-12T17:15:20Z")
[QUOTE=Drum God] I had no idea. Somehow, that seems sort of sad to me. That’s like saying we don’t need to teach mental arithmetic because we have calculators for that. It seems that anyone responsible for the safe navigation of a major aircraft or ship ought to be able to navigate by the stars. Not that I’m an expert or anything. [/QUOTE] I know, you’d think with that $100 million aircraft, we’d be doing everything possible to ensure its safety. Well, you could look at it this way: how many times in the last, oh, say, 15 years has the safety of the crew/accurate determination of aircraft position been solely reliant upon a sextant? Generally speaking, when navigational mistakes happen these days, it happens because of either poor communication (either within or external to the aircraft, to include bad ATC instructions), or because of human error. Since I’ve been in the military (over 12 years now), I cannot recall a single instance/story about a mil aircraft systems crash that was alleviated (or could have been) by a sextant. I don’t recall any commercial airline stories, either. So, really, no big loss by tossing the sextants. Personally, as one who has wrestled with them in a bouncing aircraft, trying to get a steady shot, spending many many minutes running through the tables, calculating all of the variables, then trying to plot a line or two which–if you’re lucky–come within 20 miles of where you know you were at the time you shot the lines (which by that time could be 30 minutes ago)—well, let’s just say that I’m very happy to see the things go. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/38 "2007-07-12T18:32:17Z")
[QUOTE=Crescend] When a [mommy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-8_Joint_STARS) radar jet and a [daddy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_Warning_and_Control_System) radar jet love each other very much, they have a [baby](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RQ-4_Global_Hawk) radar jet. [/QUOTE] [Baby radar plane](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DN-SD-04-13416.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/39 "2007-07-13T19:40:37Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] [Baby radar plane](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DN-SD-04-13416.jpg) [/QUOTE] SQUEEEEEEE! It’s so CUTE! ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271/40 "2007-07-14T06:53:31Z")
Regarding the sextant. When I was on ballistic missile boats from '74 to '80, we used LORAN, inertial navigation, GPS, and a few other means of getting our position. Up in a corner of the control room was a wooden box with an **octant** inside. We never used it and most people never knew it was there. The only time it was mentioned was on trick questions during qualifying walk throughs. Regards Testy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-this-plane/411271.md?page=3)