Come Fly with Me
The names Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain probably do not mean much to you; but on your next transcontinental charter flight, you may wish to tip your cap to them. If not for these men, you might still be chugging along on Greyhound from destination to destination. These two men, independent of each other, developed the concept of the jet plane in the late 1930s.
Quite possibly the most important and interesting fact about the design of the jet plane is its need to be extremely aerodynamic. The jet plane must have the ability to cut through the air with as little friction as possible. This is why planes have pointy noses, wings that are tapered back and smooth surfaces.
The idea of expansion is another interesting design tidbit. The friction of a jet cutting through the air at speeds upward of 500 miles per hour generates a lot of heat. During the design phase of an aircraft, the engineers have to take into account that the heat could cause a plane to expand in size during flight. The SR-71 Blackbird expanded about 8 inches while zipping through the sky at 2300 miles per hour.
Did you know that a Boeing 747 is made up of 6 million parts? During takeoff, the engine on a Boeing 767 is so efficient that the amount of air it pulls through would inflate the Goodyear Blimp in about seven seconds. In addition, a modern Boeing jet at 70% occupancy has greater fuel efficiency than a brand new car hauling two people around.
Everyday people all over the world look skyward in amazement as private jet planes in excess of 900,000 pounds fully loaded slice effortlessly through the sky. We can thank the designers and engineers,who work every day to push the envelope of flight, for this fascinating trivia.
