Plane Facts You Should Know Before Booking Your Flight
Ever wonder why airplanes have those weird headphone jacks? Well, those double-pronged plugs are called the standard aviation plug, and they're designed to work in noisy environments while ensuring a secure connection. Now, onto other cool plane facts – did you know that the tiny holes in airplane windows aren't just there for show? They help regulate the cabin pressure, preventing the window from fogging up. And here's a fun one: ever notice the little bump on the wing of some planes? It's called a winglet, and it reduces drag, making the aircraft more fuel-efficient. So next time you're on a flight, those weird jacks and quirks might just add a bit more fascination to your journey! ✈️
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FunTranscript
00:00 Let's face it, airports can be pretty annoying.
00:03 But the most annoying thing about them is probably having to take the laptop out of
00:07 your backpack and put it in a separate bin while going through the security check.
00:13 But of course, they wouldn't make us do those extra moves if there wasn't a good
00:17 reason for it.
00:19 Laptops are dense and x-rays can't penetrate them, so it's easy to hide something dangerous
00:24 there.
00:25 If the device is out and on its own in a separate bin, it's easier for the scanners to capture
00:29 something dangerous.
00:32 Most airplanes are white.
00:34 Is there a benefit to choosing this exact color?
00:36 No, white paint doesn't make a place feel lighter.
00:40 Neither does it save money on painting.
00:43 Here are the actual reasons for the choice - safety, efficiency, and comfort.
00:49 The first airplanes had a metallic color, but the problem with metal is that it's
00:54 prone to corrosion.
00:55 So painting it is a great way to protect an airplane from corrosion.
00:59 White is favored for several reasons.
01:02 First, planes fly high above the clouds and are exposed to sunlight a lot.
01:08 White is the color that absorbs the least heat, and white planes get heated less.
01:13 Also, sunlight makes the paint fade away.
01:16 A colorful airplane will have its paint fade very fast and will require repainting.
01:21 And repainting is costly, so painting aircraft white is a more lasting choice.
01:27 Also, any damage is more easily noticed on a white surface.
01:31 So that's one more point for the white color.
01:35 We always board from the left side of the plane, every single time.
01:39 No exceptions.
01:40 For some reason, the right side just doesn't seem to be an option.
01:44 Yes, that's done on purpose.
01:46 First, the captain usually sits on the left.
01:49 This way it's easier for the pilot to align the plane with the terminal jet bridge.
01:54 Also, aircraft are fueled and loaded with baggage on the right side.
01:59 Since people board the plane from the left, the crew can do their job undisturbed, and
02:04 there's no danger to passengers.
02:06 Consistency with the choice of a side helps to make everything work more effectively.
02:12 Since everyone always enters from the left, all jet bridges are designed to get attached
02:17 to the left side of the airplane.
02:19 If every airplane had the freedom to choose the side, it would create an additional mess
02:24 for the logistics behind the process.
02:27 There are more questions popping up.
02:29 Like, what does this black triangle drawn above one of the windows mean?
02:34 Apparently, it marks the seat from which the view of the airplane's wing is the best.
02:39 It's needed for the crew to find the spot as fast as possible if, in case of an emergency,
02:44 they need to inspect the engines, slats, or flaps.
02:48 This mark saves a lot of time.
02:51 Next, the rows aren't well aligned with the windows.
02:55 This is business.
02:56 Originally, all planes are designed with rows and windows lining up perfectly.
03:01 But when an airline buys a jet, they add some additional seats, squeezing them closer together.
03:07 This way, they have more seats, which means more passengers, so they can sell more tickets.
03:13 But you get less space for your legs and might miss out on a window.
03:18 Also, all windows have rounded corners, and this is done for safety reasons.
03:23 There used to be planes with squared windows, but those caused crashes because such windows
03:28 couldn't withstand high-altitude pressures.
03:31 At high altitudes, external atmospheric pressure is lower than the pressure inside the cabin.
03:36 So there's a big difference in pressure inside and outside the airplane, and this creates
03:42 stress.
03:43 Without windows, this stress flows smoothly through the material.
03:47 A squared window becomes an obstacle, and the flow of stress needs to change direction.
03:53 The pressure builds up in the corners, leading to cracks.
03:56 As a result, such windows break.
04:00 Oval windows allow the stress to flow more smoothly, without disrupting them too much
04:04 and preventing stress concentration.
04:07 So oval windows are safer.
04:09 The glass used in production is stretched acrylic glass, and there are three separate
04:14 panes of it.
04:15 This is done as a security measure in case there is a breach.
04:19 This way, at least one pane will remain intact at all times.
04:24 Have you ever noticed those small holes in the windows?
04:28 The tiny hole is actually only in the pane that's in the middle.
04:32 Its task is to regulate the huge pressure difference inside and outside the cabin.
04:37 This way, the outer pane can handle the load.
04:40 If the outer pane breaks, the middle one, even though there's a hole in it, will be
04:44 able to keep the window intact.
04:46 Also, that hole prevents the windows from fogging up.
04:51 Now let's say you want to relax and watch a movie.
04:54 Luckily, there's a pair of headphones.
04:57 But they're weird.
04:58 They have a two-pronged plug.
05:00 No, this is not some kind of advanced technology.
05:04 This is a witty move to prevent theft.
05:06 If you can't use them anywhere else but on the airplane, no one will have the urge
05:11 to snatch them away.
05:13 Inside the airplane, they're basically useless.
05:17 And then they bring food.
05:18 There are people who love airplane food and people who aren't very fond of it.
05:23 But most will agree that food does taste different in the air.
05:27 Turns out, it's actually a thing.
05:30 Low air pressure, lack of humidity, and background noise that we have at high altitudes change
05:35 the functioning of our taste buds.
05:38 They become less sensitive to sweet and salty foods, so airlines have to use more seasoning.
05:45 Have you ever wondered what would happen if someone opened an airplane door accidentally?
05:50 This wouldn't end well.
05:51 It would be very dangerous, to say the least.
05:54 More specifically, soon there would be a lack of oxygen in the cabin.
05:59 But gladly, no one can open that door accidentally.
06:03 The pressure difference between inside and outside makes it almost impossible.
06:08 It would take some immense strength to open it.
06:11 The doors are designed to open on their own in case of an emergency.
06:16 Speaking of safety, during takeoff and landing, the crew dims the light in the cabin.
06:22 This is done for a good reason.
06:24 This way, in case of emergency, you will see everything more clearly.
06:29 Your eyes will get used to the darkness, and you'll have an easier time evacuating.
06:35 Now about pilots.
06:37 They always wear those cool sunglasses, but the purpose is not to look cooler.
06:42 They're used to protect the eyes.
06:45 Throughout their career, pilots have to take care of their vision, but the problem is that
06:49 it's not an easy task when you're a pilot.
06:52 The damaging solar radiation that our sun emits is filtered out by the Earth's atmosphere,
06:57 so the sunlight isn't very damaging to you if you spend most of your time on the ground.
07:02 But it's different up in the sky.
07:05 There's less air there, and the brightness is way higher.
07:09 And with every 1,000 feet of elevation, the solar radiation is around 5% stronger.
07:16 On average, aircraft fly at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
07:21 This means that the amount of UV radiation is 175% greater than on the ground.
07:28 This is very damaging to any person's vision.
07:31 The large amount of time pilots spend in the air makes them vulnerable to different eye
07:36 problems.
07:37 And having eye problems can cost a pilot their career.
07:42 So wearing sunglasses is a crucial thing for them, and these sunglasses must be of the
07:48 best quality.
07:50 They should minimize the impact of sunlight and withstand UV rays, providing 100% protection
07:56 for the eyes.
07:57 Also, they can't be polarized, since polarization can mess with the perception of the cockpit
08:02 displays.
08:04 They should provide the best clarity, decrease eye fatigue, and minimize color deformation,
08:10 so that pilots can see just like they would without their sunglasses on.
08:17 That's it for today!
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08:22 friends!
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