Before any of the complex physics and stuff, you need to get a feel for this amazing topic: aviation.

It all started in 1903, when the Wright Brothers of the US completed the very first heavier-than-air, powered flight, travelling 36 meters in 12 seconds. Now, we have flights from London to Sydney - nonstop, travelling a distance of over 17,000 kilometers or 10,000 miles, taking over 22 HOURS - nearly an entire day.

Let's Start Here

On a plane, first, there is an air frame. Hundreds of specially designed plates are screwed or other, onto an underlying metal grid  around the plane called an airframe. The panels and frame together form a strong, but often lightweight craft. Many of these parts, especially the outer panels, are made from a carbon fibre reinforced material, though traditional aluminium is also used.

Windows

You may think that windows aren't very important, but they definitely are quite interesting. They are made up of 3 layers o reinforced glass, the middle with a hole in it to keep the pressure right. So, next time you go on a plane, do not worry! If the hole wasn't there, the window would literally just blow out!

Takeoff and Landing

                                                                When the plane takes off, there are                                                                     many things happening. The engines                                                                   start and the plane speeds along the                                                                    runway. Then the pilot pulls up on                                                                        the yoke or control stick and the elevators move. The lift becomes greater than the weight, and the plane goes into the air. The landing gear is pulled up, by a complex mechanism, but it still depends on the plane and the manufacturer. Some planes have non-retractable landing gear, and some have massive sets of wheels pulled up by huge metal hydraulic systems. The plane is steered by the pilot and ailerons are used to adjust the angle of the wings. Flaps are used to slow the plane down as it approaches the runway. The plane then lands and decelerates to a stop.

The Passengers

There are many things that happen to get airline food to your tray table somewhere over the mid-Atlantic. There are oxygen cylinders, located around the plane, so you don't die. There are seatbelts, keeping you safe during takeoff and landing, and then many people to help you throughout the flight.

Safety

There are many safety features that are on most planes. Qantas invented the Safety Slide, the most common safety invention on commercial planes. The slide can be our first topic in the safetey section.

Safety Slide

The safety slide and over-wing exits are crucial components of aircraft safety. They allow for a quick and efficient evacuation in case of an emergency. The Federal Aviation Administration requires every aircraft to be certified for a 90-second evacuation time using only half of the available exits. Often, the slides have life rafts at the bottom of them. Hopefully they have enough and don't end up like Titanic! These safety measures ensure that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation.

emergency oxygen masks, which automatically deploy if there is a sudden loss of cabin pressure. These safety features, along with rigorous maintenance and safety inspections, help to make air travel one of the safest modes of transportation available.

The 4 Forces

On a plane, there are 4 forces acting upon the aircraft. Lift, pushing the plane upwards, thrust, pushing the plane forward, drag, dragging the plane backwards, and finally gravity, which brings the plane downwards. Each of these forces are incredible and important. Engines make thrust, air creates drag, gravity is gravity, and wings create lift... But how exactly does that happen?

                                       Lift

                                                                                           Drag

Thrust

                                    Weight

Thrust

Thrust is one of the most important parts of flight. It creates forward movement and that then creates lift, getting the plane into the air.  

1 Cool air comes into the engine, spinning the fans. 2 The outer layer of the engine which protects it from the elements. 3 The fans. Many engines only have one, but it all comes down to the designers. 4 The combustion chamber. The most important part of an engine, the combustion chamber is where all