Aviation has revolutionized the way we travel and connect with the world. Aviation has come a long way from the Wright brothers’ historic flight to modern-day aircraft. However, there’s more to aviation than meets the eye. In this blog post, we’ll share 10 fascinating aviation facts you might not know.
-
The Wright Brothers’ First Flight Lasted Only 12 Seconds
The Wright brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, lasted just 12 seconds, covering a distance of only 120 feet. Indeed, that flight changed the course of history and paved the way for modern aviation.
-
The First Airplane Was Made of Wood and Canvas
The Wright brothers’ first airplane, the Wright Flyer, was made of wood and canvas, and it weighed only 605 pounds and had a wingspan of 40 feet.
-
The Longest Non-stop Commercial Flight Is Over 9,000 Miles
The longest non-stop commercial flight is from New York to Sydney, covering a distance of over 9,000 miles. The flight takes around 18 hours and 30 minutes and is operated by Qantas Airways.
-
The Fastest Commercial Aircraft Can Travel at Over Twice the Speed of Sound
The fastest commercial aircraft is the Concorde, which can travel at a speed of over twice the speed of sound, or Mach 2.04. However, they retired the Concorde in 2003 due to high costs and safety concerns.
-
The World’s Largest Commercial Plane Has a Wingspan of Over 260 Feet
The Airbus A380, the world’s largest commercial plane, has a wingspan of over 260 feet and can carry up to 853 passengers. It is the only commercial plane with two full-length decks.
-
The First Female Pilot Flew in 1908
The first female pilot was Therese Peltier, who flew a glider in France in 1908. However, it was not until 1910 that the first woman received a pilot’s license.
-
The Shortest Commercial Flight Lasts Only 47 Seconds
The shortest commercial flight is between the Scottish islands of Westray and Papa Westray, lasting only 47 seconds. Loganair operates this flight at a distance of just 1.7 miles.
-
The Black Box Is Actually Orange
Contrary to its name, the black box is actually bright orange. David Warren invented the black box recorder, which records flight data and cockpit voice recordings, to be easily visible and recoverable in case of a crash.
-
The First Flight Attendants Were Nurses
Boeing Air Transport (now United Airlines) registered the first ever flight attendants in 1930. They were responsible for tending to passengers’ needs, including serving meals and attending to medical emergencies.
-
The World’s Largest Air Force Is the US Air Force
The US Air Force is the largest air force in the world, with over 5,500 aircraft and over 300,000 active-duty personnel. Comparatively, the US Air Force is also the most technologically advanced air force in the world.
Aviation is full of interesting facts and stories. From the Wright brothers’ historic flight to modern-day aircraft, aviation has come a long way. We hope you enjoyed learning about these fascinating aviation facts! At CarbonTV, we love all things aviation. Stay tuned for future aviation articles in the future.
Check out this episode of Aviation Paramotor where the team takes Cory Robin’s bush plane to the birthplace of Aviation, Kitty Hawk, on CarbonTV.
