Who Was the First President To Fly in an Airplane?
When the Wright brothers made their first flight in December 1903, it completely changed the course of modern travel. No longer did people have to rely on horses, cars, trains, and boats. Now, they could finally take to the skies. It wouldn’t be for another 10 years that the first commercial passenger flight took place from St. Petersburg to Tampa, and it was another 30 for a U.S. president to take a plane. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first United States president to take a plane. He entered a Pan Am Boeing 314 flying boat, flying across the [...]
Can Airplanes Fly Over the White House?
There were a lot of restrictions put in place following the events of September 11, 2001, in the United States. Not only was security tightened in airports, but the United States also put in place some flight-restricted zones in and around Washington, D.C. There are places that planes cannot fly, including over the White House. If planes have a reason to do so, they can obtain special clearance. If they don’t, they could lose their license and face other consequences. Here’s all you need to know about flying over Washington, D.C. Key Takeaways Following the September 11, 2001 [...]
Can Airplanes Fly Over North Korea?
North Korea tightly controls who can come in and out of its borders, and that includes the airspace above it. Planes technically can fly over North Korea, but most won’t. Currently, there are only two airlines that can fly into North Korea without incident. One is Air Koryo, which is the country’s official airline, and the other is Air China. All other airlines may face difficulty if they try to fly over North Korea. Key Takeaways North Korea tightly controls its airspace, allowing only two airlines, Air Koryo and Air China, to fly into the country. All other [...]
Can Airplanes Fly Over Mount Everest?
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on earth, standing nearly 30,000 feet above the ground. Many people have tried to climb it and failed. If you can’t climb it, can you fly to it or over it? It’s technically possible for an airplane to fly over Mount Everest, but they typically won’t. The highest a plane can go is between 30,000 feet and 42,000 feet, depending on the aircraft. With Mount Everest standing nearly that tall in the air, that’s too close for comfort for most pilots to try flying over it. Trying to do so could cause [...]
What Is Sweep On A Plane?
The ‘sweep’ of a plane refers to the design of its wings. The wings of a plane are said to be swept if they angle forward, or more typically, backward from the base of the plane. This is the typical form that you’ll find on a commercial aircraft. Of course, they don’t have to be angled this way; there are planes that have wings with no sweep, or a sweep angled forward instead of backward. It all largely depends on how you want the plane to behave while flying. Key Takeaways Sweep on a plane refers to the [...]
Can Airplanes Fly Over Mecca?
Mecca is one of the holiest places in the world. Located in Saudi Arabia, it is the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad, and millions of people travel there each year during their annual pilgrimage. There are many different ways to get to Mecca, including by train, car, bus, or plane; however, there are strict rules in place in this holy land that all must follow, including over the airspace. Can airplanes fly over Mecca? No, they cannot fly over Mecca. This is a holy site, and it’s strictly enforced as a no-fly zone because of its religious significance. [...]
Can Airplanes Fly Over Antarctica?
Many people have on their bucket list to visit all seven continents in the world, including Antarctica. However, it’s not the most practical place to visit. Located in the southernmost pole, it’s incredibly cold, and there is a lot of snow and ice surrounding it. You’ll get to the continent by boat, but you can also fly near and around Antarctica, including over it. However, just because you can, in theory, doesn’t mean that you should. It can be extremely dangerous to do so, and here’s all you need to know. Key Takeaways The article highlights the harsh [...]
Can Airplanes Fly Into Space?
When you look up into the sky, especially at night, it may look like the planes passing over are actually flying in space. That’s just a trick of the eyes. Planes cannot fly into space like a rocket can. They do not have the equipment needed to do so, even they can defy gravity to fly in the skies. Key Takeaways Airplanes rely on air pressure and lift to fly, making them suitable for the lower layers of Earth's atmosphere. In contrast, rockets generate their own lift through high-speed gas expulsion from burning rocket fuel, enabling them to [...]
Can Airplanes Fly in the Stratosphere?
The earth’s atmosphere is multi-layered, comprised of five major layers: troposphere, stratosphere, meosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Once you transcend these layers, you’re no longer on Earth, instead making your way into space. Commercial airplanes aren’t quite ready for space travel yet, so what layer of the atmosphere do they fly in? Can airplanes fly in the stratosphere? Yes! Not only is it safe to travel in the stratosphere, there are benefits to doing so. Here’s all you need to know. Key Takeaways The stratosphere offers the best place for airplanes to fly due to its stable and clear [...]