Latest news with #Boeing747
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Telegraph
The reality of flying in extreme weather
Given the ever-changing patterns of tourism, airline routes tend to come and go pretty regularly. But Wizz Air's announcement last week that it will be scrapping all of its routes from Abu Dhabi (the capital of the United Arab Emirates and a bustling flight hub between Europe and Asia) may have raised more eyebrows than usual. As well as the tough commercial and geopolitical climate in the Middle East, the low-cost carrier also cited the UAE's 'hot and harsh' climate as a reason for grounding the flights, adding that the high concentration of dust in the air was causing damage to its engines. That the Gulf can be punishingly hot won't be news to anyone. But the idea that extreme temperatures can cause complications for planes seems like the sort of thing that frequent flyers might want to know more about – particularly if they plan on jetting to the region any time soon. Too hot to handle Most of the time, hotter temperatures are a matter of simple physics for pilots, says Nick Eades, a veteran captain of the legendary Boeing 747 and the author of several books. As the air heats up, it also gets lighter, which makes it tougher for a plane to get the lift it needs to take off properly. 'In days gone by, airlines had to adjust their schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day, but modern airliners are able to operate in extreme conditions,' he says. At worst, the pilot may have to make some additional calculations, like reducing the amount of fuel on board to lower the plane's weight. Once the plane has taken off, the heat is much less of a concern (although it may well add to turbulence at lower altitudes). Though planes that land in hot weather will usually experience a higher ground speed. 'To compensate, pilots will slow down much earlier and extend the flaps and landing gear earlier than normal,' he says. Where hot weather has led to flight cancellations it's usually down to issues on the ground, rather than with per se. Last year, flights were briefly grounded in Delhi, for example, when safety authorities ruled that the airport tarmac had become too hot for a safe take off. Closer to home, flights from London Luton Airport were cancelled for a day in summer 2022, after high temperatures caused parts of the runway to melt. When the dust settles In the case of Wizz Air's experiences in Abu Dhabi, though, the issue isn't necessarily the heat but the heavy concentration of sand and dust in the air – some of which gets sucked into the engine during take-off. The extreme heat of the engine then means that much of that dust will melt, leaving behind a glass-like residue which can hamper the blades. 'This isn't like volcanic ash, where there is a risk of the plane falling out of the sky,' says Dr Claire Ryder, a meteorologist at the University of Reading who has led studies into the levels of dust around different airports. However, the gradual build-up and abrasion over time will result in performance issues for the aircraft engines, meaning lower fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs. For an ultra-low-cost carrier like Wizz Air, which relies on cutting back any possible costs to offer the cheapest tickets possible, that is a potential headache. Given the massive aviation market in the Middle East, there is a sizeable incentive to develop engines that can better handle dust. At the University of Manchester, a team of researchers is working with Rolls Royce to conduct tests using synthetic dust, with the aim of understanding exactly what happens when it gets sucked into the engine. 'We know that the dust gets smaller the further it gets into the engine, but we are also looking at how it changes in its chemical structure,' says Dr Nicholas Bojdo, who is leading the project. The issue becomes more pertinent as engines get more powerful, as the increased capacity means that the temperatures get even hotter inside – thus exceeding the melting point for more minerals. While temperature may be rising, the climate change models aren't particularly well equipped to estimate the impact on dust, says Dr Claire Ryder. Though some studies show a correlation between rising temperatures and dust storms – the latter having led to flight cancellations (particularly in India) due to poor visibility. Snowed under Hot weather and dust are one issue, but what about the other end of the spectrum, when planes have to operate in harsh cold snaps? For all the disruption caused by snow storms and arctic blasts, the impact on the planes themselves is nowhere near as dramatic. The typical cruising altitude of passenger jets means that they are already built to handle some seriously sub-zero temperatures. If anything, colder ground temperatures can make the engines more efficient. The wings can also be treated with a special anti-freeze to ensure they aren't affected by the outside temperatures. If cold weather is going to cause problems it's likely to be on the ground. For example, snow blizzards can compromise air traffic control's visibility. In those circumstances, it's common for controllers to impose stricter safety limits, increasing the spacing between take-offs and arrivals. This usually means that some flights will inevitably be cancelled entirely. Extreme cold weather may also cause runways to be closed off, as happened at four UK airports (Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester) back in January, when much of the country was under an amber warning for snow and ice. As a rule of thumb, aviation authorities warn against attempting take-off when the surface is more than 25 per cent ice or snow. Perhaps Wizz Air won't be rushing to launch a Greenland or Alaska service any time soon, then. But it's good to know that, for those airlines prepared to splash the cash, the marvels of modern engineering can deal with extreme weather conditions – even if the airports themselves may not be so lucky.
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
I'm Not Gonna Lie, These 20 Absolutely Mind-Blowing Pictures Just Completely And Totally Shattered My Dumb Little Brain
This is what the border between Mexico and the United States looks like at the ocean between Tijuana and San Diego: Here's another unique border. This is the border between Canada and France on Saint Pierre and Miquelon near Newfoundland: While campaigning for president in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest but survived because the bullet was slowed by a steel glasses case and a folded speech in his jacket pocket. This is the shirt he was wearing that day: He famously went on to deliver the speech anyway, clocking in at over one hour. In Finland the largest size of mayonaise is called "AMERICAN SIZE:" No comment. This is one of only two remaining pirate Jolly Roger flags in existence: It was captured in 1790. According to the BBC, the flag's red color "signified the pirates intended to spare no life if a battle broke out during a ship's capture." Here's what some dinosaur footprints look like: Neat! Way, way back when it was originally created, Lysol advertised one of its uses as being for 'feminine hygiene:" Obviously, this is incredibly dangerous. This is Paul Karason, whose skin turned permanently blue after years of consuming colloidal silver: He claimed it cured many of his health problems, including arthritis and acid reflux. Here he is next to a non-blue person: According to astronomers, this is the average color of the universe: The color is called "cosmic latte." To figure this out, astronomers averaged the colors of over 200,000 galaxies together. Folks, would you drink the cosmic latte? Some old lawnmowers had built in cigarette lighters: We used to be a proper country. Yellow watermelons are a thing that exists: They apparently have more of a "honey" taste. I've seen them at Wegman's... but have not tried. Some menus include the estimated cooking time for each dish along with the price: This is a loaf of sourdough bread that was miraculously preserved after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE: It was inside an oven at the time of the eruption. Folks, are you eating the volcano bread? Over time, gold crayons can turn green on the outside but still be gold on the inside: Sanddollars, my friend... sanddollars can be very tiny: This is what the start of a river looks like: Otherwise known as a spring. This is the start of the Metolius River in Oregon. Before treating cuts on eyeballs, a yellow dye is applied to better locate any tears: It does look pretty cool, though. This is the amount of contact a train wheel typically makes with the track: A bit scary. This is what a cross-section of a Boeing 747 looks like: Not much between you and the great wide-open sky. And, finally, some elevators in Japan have tiny little toilets in the corner: For... you know... emergencies.
The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Solar-powered 236-foot ‘Skydweller' aircraft flies for mind-boggling 90 DAYS without stopping
AEROSPACE boffins have unveiled a solar-powered surveillance drone that can fly for several months at a time - achieving near-constant eyes in the sky. US tech startup Skydweller Aero has partnered with French defence systems specialist Thales to build a new type of maritime surveillance drone. 5 The carbon fiber drone is set to fly for up to 90 days straight - far longer than existing aircrafts, according to its creators Credit: Skydweller 5 While its initial flight milestone will be three months, the aircraft has the potential to fly almost continuously Credit: Youtube/Skydweller Aero 5 It takes it power directly from the sun, so there's no need to land and refuel Credit: Skydweller As tech on the ground gets smarter, so too must the machines in the sky. The carbon fibre drone is set to fly for up to 90 days straight - far longer than existing aircraft, according to its creators. While its initial flight milestone will be three months, the aircraft has the potential to fly almost continuously. It takes it power directly from the sun, so there's no need to land and refuel. READ MORE ON AEROSPACE In May, That's the equivalent of 1,608 hours. The Skydweller has over 17,000 individual solar cells across its approximately 2,900 square feet (270 square meters) wing surface to capture the sun's rays and convert it into power. Its wingspan is 236ft - longer than a Boeing 747. Most read in Tech Despite its similar wingspan, it weighs a whopping 160 times less than a traditional 'jumbo jet'. The surveillance drone doesn't really have capacity for much cargo either - sporting just 2.5 metric tons at maximum capacity in comparison to 400 tons for the 747 at full payload. In ideal conditions with minimal cloud cover, the solar cells can generate up to 100 kilowatts of power for the aircraft. Incredible plan for hypersonic 'Air Master' passenger plane that can hit 4,600mph & fly from London to NYC in 45 MINUTES The drone can only refuel when the sun is out, which means it relies on over 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms) of batteries to power it through the night. Skydweller flies slightly lower than the average commercial carrier, at an altitude of between 24,600 and 34,400ft, on average. However, it can fly as high as 44,600ft during the day, before dropping by between 4,900 and 9,800ft at night to minimise power consumption. Although as with any battery - these onboard batteries will degrade over time, which could limit the maximum patrol duration of the aircraft. Other incredibly lightweight solar-powered drones have suffered catastrophic mid-air failures before when ascending or descending through medium altitudes, Live Science noted. The brains behind Skydweller are hoping to avoid this by designing the aircraft to operate specifically within this flight range. Using automatic gust-load alleviation software in the flight control system, the aircraft will be able to reduce the aerodynamic loads caused by turbulence. This eye in the sky will require a quadruple-redundant flight control system and sophisticated vehicle management system (VMS) to stay in the air reliably for up to 90 days. That means if one of the onboard systems fails, a backup system can take over to maintain the flight. The VMS will also have a clever computer algorithm that allows it to diagnose and fix any problems in the system - like its very own on-board IT specialist. 5 Skydweller flies slightly lower than the average commercial carrier, at an altitude of between 24,600 and 34,400ft, on average Credit: Getty 5 In ideal conditions with minimal cloud cover, the solar cells can generate up to 100 kilowatts of power for the aircraft Credit: Getty
New Straits Times
17-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Cloud nine wedding: Aviation enthusiasts say 'I Do' aboard 747 jumbo jet
FUJAIRAH: High above the clouds, aviation enthusiasts Sam Chui and Fiona Pang turned their dream into reality by tying the knot aboard a Boeing 747-400, transforming a symbol of flight into their wedding venue. The couple transformed their shared passion into an airborne celebration, marking a rare wedding held on a jumbo jet, according to Gulf News. Nearly 100 seats were removed to create an aisle, dance floor and event space inside the iconic aircraft. Pang, a former flight attendant, trained on the Boeing 747 at the start of her aviation journey and the couple chose the aircraft as a symbolic tribute to their love and careers. Chartered via Aquiline International, the only 747-400 passenger operator in the UAE, the 90-minute flight departed Fujairah and cruised over the Gulf of Oman as guests explored the cockpit and upper deck. While the final bill is still being calculated, Chui said that fuel for the jumbo jet alone cost about US$20,000 (RM85,000) per hour, not including airport charges, catering or décor.
Focus Malaysia
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Fahmi Fadzil accused of hypocrisy by deleting 'old tweets' from his opposition heydays
'THE ONLY thing worse than a liar is a liar that's also a hypocrite!' declared the American playwright Tennessee Williams. It is that precise sentiment that many online commenters seem to be taking with regard to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil's seemingly deleting comments that he previously made on social media in the past. 'The worst thing ministers could do is delete their old tweets to hide the fact that what they espoused before is no longer their stances today now that they're in power,' lamented politically-conscious I/O (@ckliio9). 'You know what it's called? Hypocrisy.' The worst thing ministers could do is delete their old tweets to hide the fact that what they espoused before is no longer their stances today now that they're in power. You know what it's called? Hypocrisy. And if you're the Communication Minister, it's double whammy because… — I/O (@ckliio9) July 15, 2025 In the poster's opinion, such action is tantamount 'to a double whammy because as a Communication Minister, you're supposed to set an example of how communications should be'. 'You and your zombies never cared much about what others think,' berated I/O. 'But when your own supporters are calling you out for being a hypocrite, those who – for decades believed in what you and your party stood for – then you and your party have a major problem.' Another eagle-eyed commenter Afiq H. (@A_Hxrrxz2nd) pointedly asked what motivated the Lembah Pantai MP to delete an old tweet. Was it fear of being reminded of what was espoused before he became a minister that would have repercussion on his actions today? Fahmi delete tweet lama kenapa? You don't want to be reminded of who you were before you tasted power??? Why do you fear your own past? 😂 — Afiq H. (@A_Hxrrxz2nd) July 14, 2025 The comment may be deleted but as another commenter highlighted, 'a screenshot lasts a lifetime'. More evidence exposed As highlighted by Jinx (@siobhanny), Fahmi's deleted comment was in response to a tweet by seemingly Pakatan Harapan (PH) backer Boeing 747 (@Boeing747S8) on good governance and how power seems to corrupt those who promised to take care of the rakyat's welfare. Fahmi had then responded by stating, 'It's amazing what a leaked document can do to defend the rakyat. Now imagine if we had transparency in governance all the time'. The comment which was posted on May 9, 2015 was recently deleted. He can delete tweets all he wants. But screenshots are forever @fahmi_fadzil — 𝓙𝓲𝓷𝔁🦊 (@siobhananny) July 15, 2025 In fact, those with opposition slant reacted in glee as they scanned old tweets in search of more damning evidence. One Wilson is Running (@wilsonyimby) dug up tweets from as far back as 2011 to highlight the current PKR information chief's hypocrisy for having personally ticked off those who deleted their social media comment as 'lacking in courage' (posted on Feb 24, 2020). Wei deleted — Wilson is Running 🇲🇾 (@wilsonyimby) July 14, 2025 At the end of the day, one commenter wondered why Fahmi didn't just let sleeping dogs lie. His act of deleting old tweets would merely attract unwanted attention, thus making the 44-old PH lawmaker look like a hypocrite. Actually aku tertanya tanya kenapa Fahmi perlu delete tweet lama dia? Benda dah jadi receipt pun. Bila kamu delete lagi la nampak kamu ni hypocrite 😂. — Kamil Adam 🇲🇾 (@kamylladam) July 14, 2025 Perhaps, better than the Tennessee Williams' quote above, the one by horror novelist, James Herbert, best encapsulates this episode. 'Never underestimate the hypocrisy of politicians.' – July 17, 2025 Main image credit: Fahmi Fadzil/Facebook
