Aerodynamics & Physics
This is the upward force created by the wings that keeps an airplane flying against the pull of gravity.
What is lift?
These movable flaps on the outer edges of the wings move up and down in opposite directions to make the plane roll left or right.
What are ailerons?
On December 17, 1903, these two bicycle-building brothers achieved the first powered, controlled human flight in North Carolina.
Who are the Wright brothers (Wilbur and Orville)?
Often referred to by its airport code LAX, this massive hub serves the second-most populous city in the United States.
What is Los Angeles International Airport?
Tom Cruise stars as naval aviator Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in this iconic 1986 action film and its 2022 sequel.
What is Top Gun?
This backward-pulling force is caused by air resistance pushing against the front of the moving aircraft.
What is drag?
Found on the vertical tail, this hinged flap is used by the pilot to steer the nose of the plane left or right (yaw).
What is the rudder?
In 1927, this daring American pilot became the first person to fly solo and nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean in the Spirit of St. Louis.
Who is Charles Lindbergh?
Located in New York City, this major international airport is named after a U.S. President who was assassinated in 1963.
What is John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)?
In this epic open-world flight simulator developed by Microsoft, players can fly incredibly detailed aircraft to almost any real-world location on Earth.
What is Microsoft Flight Simulator?
This famous scientific principle explains how faster-moving air over the curved top of a wing creates lower pressure, helping generate lift.
What is Bernoulli's Principle?
These high-powered engines on modern commercial airliners suck in air, compress it, mix it with fuel, and blast it out the back to thrust the plane forward.
What is a jet engine (or turbofan engine)?
In 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break this milestone barrier in level flight using the rocket-powered Bell X-1.
What is the sound barrier (Mach 1)?
Known by the code LHR, this is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and a major global gateway for Europe.
What is London Heathrow Airport?
Released in 2013, this Disney animated film tells the story of Dusty Crophopper, a crop-duster plane who dreams of competing in an aerial race.
What is Planes?
When a pilot pulls back too hard on the controls, the angle of the wing gets too steep, causing airflow to break away and resulting in this sudden loss of lift.
What is a stall?
Located on the front of the plane, this instrument uses air pressure from a small forward-facing tube to tell the pilot how fast they are flying.
What is the airspeed indicator?
Introduced in 1969, this massive Boeing wide-body plane became known as the world's original "jumbo jet."
What is the Boeing 747?
Famous for its iconic waterfall inside the indoor forest dome called the "Jewel," this airport serves Singapore.
What is Singapore Changi Airport?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this iconic flying red-and-gold suit of armor is famously built by Tony Stark.
What is the Iron Man suit?
This special type of drag is an unavoidable side effect of creating lift, caused by swirling mini-tornados forming at the tips of the wings.
What is induced drag?
Often called "slats" or "flaps," these movable panels on the wings are extended during takeoff and landing to temporarily increase both lift and drag at slower speeds.
What are high-lift devices (flaps/slats)?
Operating from 1976 to 2003, this iconic Anglo-French passenger jet could cruise at twice the speed of sound (Mach 2).
What is the Concorde?
Located in the French capital, this major European hub shares its name with the famous WWII leader and former French president.
What is Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)?
In the Star Wars universe, this legendary wedge-shaped Imperial starship class serves as the primary capital warship for the Galactic Empire.
What is a Star Destroyer (or Imperial Star Destroyer)?