Think you know everything there is to know about modern flight? Here are five things you probably didn’t know about the changing face of modern aviation:
- Only about 5% of people in the world have ever been on an airplane. While many of us see aircraft so often that it’s become routine, there are still billions of people around the globe who’ve never even seen an aircraft up close, let alone flown in one.
- Air control towers have angled glass for a reason. Have you ever noticed that every air traffic control tower has angled windows? Windows in these towers have to be angled at precisely 15 degrees to decrease reflections and glare.
- If you think there’s more aircraft turbulence today than in the past – you’re right. It turns out that an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing turbulence.
- Mercury is prohibited on all flights. Why? Mercury can do huge amounts of damage to aluminum very quickly. Most modern aircraft are made primarily from aluminum.
- Modern aircraft are about 70% more fuel efficient than they were in the 1960’s. This is largely due to innovations in engine and propeller design, as well as investments in lighter materials that reduce aircraft weight.
