Why do pilots start the right engine first?

It's generally more convenient, since boarding is on the left side. On smaller aircraft, that's where the battery is, meaning a shorter cable run for starting (i.e. more power). On some aircraft, the right engine is also the de facto APU (engine brake).



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Flying at a typical altitude of 36,000 feet (about seven miles), an aircraft that loses both engines will be able to travel for another 70 miles before reaching the ground.

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Boeing's commercial aircraft have a numbering system that starts and ends with seven for ease of reference and to differentiate between various products in their portfolio.

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This would prevent the engines from hitting the ground, even if they were larger than previous models. Subsequently, the engines on future 737s were flattened along the bottom. This allowed them to contain a larger fan and turbine without compromising on ground clearance.

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In the event of an emergency requiring a return to the departure airport, the aircraft circles nearby in order to consume fuel to get down to within the maximum structural landing weight limit, or, if the situation demands, simply land overweight without delay.

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The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets.

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Among other things, this means descending to a lower altitude and, potentially, reducing the airplane's speed. If all of an airplane's engines fail simultaneously, the pilot will perform an emergency landing.

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In the decades following their introduction, their use has gradually declined due to a variety of factors, including the approval of twin-engine jets to fly farther from diversion airports as reliability increased, and an increased emphasis on fuel efficiency.

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Yes, a 747 can fly on two engines. In fact, the Boeing 747 is designed to be able to operate safely and efficiently with only two of its four engines running. This capability allows pilots to continue flying even if one or more of the aircraft's engines fail during flight.

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Techincally, there is only one way for the aircraft to remain hanging motionless in the air: if weight and lift cancel each other out perfectly, and at the same time thrust and drag cancel each other out too. But this is incredibly rare. To stay in the air and sustain its flight, an aircraft needs to be moving forward.

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But the most incredible thing an Israeli pilot may have ever pulled off with the venerable F-15 came in 1983, when pilot Ziv Nedivi and instructor Yehoar Gal managed to land the top-tier fighter after losing its entire right wing in a mid-air collision.

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In order for a plane to take off, it must be going fast enough for the wings to generate enough lift to overcome the force of weight. A Boeing 747 under standard conditions must be going 296kph (184 mph) to take off. Additionally, weather factors can affect the ground speed need for takeoff.

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The dimming of cabin lights only happens when it is dusk, dawn or dark outside the aircraft. This is a safety measure, and is to ensure your eyes are adjusted to the gloom enough to see the floor lights leading you to safety along the aisle in the event of a crash or emergency evacuation.

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