Ever wondered how an ejection seat works, or how to ride a hot air balloon? This section explores modern jet mechanics and aircraft operations and components.
There are about 5,000 planes in U.S. airspace every hour. How do these aircraft keep from colliding with each other? Learn about the intricate system that guides a plane from takeoff to landing. See more »
Air taxis could make a trip to the beach or a visit with friends and relatives go from taking six hours on the highway to a quick, no-hassles plane ride. Find out how the air-taxi system will operate.
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There are about 5,000 planes in U.S. airspace every hour. How do these aircraft keep from colliding with each other? Learn about the intricate system that guides a plane from takeoff to landing.
See more »
In an office that cruises a mile or more above the ground, being an airline crew member can be tiring, but rarely boring. Find out how pilots and flight attendants get you from gate to gate.
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Like trade ships of old, air-freight planes move anything that can be bought or sold. See how goods are shipped worldwide.
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How did the guy in the next seat pay less for a ticket than you did? Explore how airlines work, how ticket prices are set and more.
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One hundred years ago the Wright brothers made their historic first flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Learn all about lift, drag, props and more, and see how planes get off the ground!
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According to the Department of Homeland Security 730 million people travel on passenger jets every year. Are these folks safe? Find out how high-tech solutions are being used to make flying as safe as possible.
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Airports are amazing "mini-cities," serving thousands of people every day. This article will give you insight into the inner-workings of the hubs from which you may be flying to see friends and family.
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For some in-flight routines and procedures, autopilots are even better than a pair of human hands. They don’t just make flights smoother -- they make them safer and more efficient.
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Inside an airport, luggage moves through an amazing and intricate system. The baggage handling system plays a crucial role in keeping travelers happy. Learn about these high-speed carts and conveyers.
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Airline pilots have an amazing job with huge responsibilities. Learn what it's like to be a pilot and what it takes to make it in this highly competitive profession.
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Blimps combine the simple buoyancy of a hot air balloon with the technology of an airplane. Learn all about these lighter-than-air vehicles.
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The only passenger plane that flies faster than the speed of sound, and can get from New York to London in less than four hours, is calling it quits. Learn how this amazing plane works.
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To most people a trip through customs is just another stop in an airport or a country's borders. But customs agencies to much more for their countries' governments. In fact U.S. Customs raises more revenue than any agency except the IRS. Find out why and how they do it.
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What's that up in the sky? Is it a small plane? It might be FusionMan, a guy who built his own set of personal wings. In May 2008, he clocked speeds of 186 mph.
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When a military aircraft is in trouble, the pilot may have to eject to save his life. Find out how this crucial escape system separates pilot from plane.
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Ever wonder what's happening inside that huge jet engine as you're cruising along at 30,000 feet? Jets, helicopters and even some power plants use a class of engine called gas turbines, which produce their own pressurized gas to spin a turbine and create power.
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Flying in a glider is about as close as you can get to soaring like a bird. Amazingly, these graceful machines manage their maneuvers without an engine. Learn how gliders fly without power.
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Helicopters are the most versatile flying machines in existence today -- they have the amazing ability to fly in 3-D moving forward and backward up and down and side to side not to mention hovering in place.
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Hot air balloons are about as simple as flying can get -- no engine, no moving parts really, and very little the pilot can do to control the vehicle. Find out what it's like to fly a hot air balloon!
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