Airplanes are huge aircrafts that transport passengers much faster than road travel. People often wonder how they actually take off. First of all, it takes certified pilots to operate aircrafts.
There are numerous conditions that must be met in order for an airplane to take off down the runway. Fog, ice and snow are major weather conditions that often cause flights to be delayed until conditions improve. If visibility is limited, pilots can’t see where they are going, and there’s a chance that they could collide with another aircraft.
Communication between all pilots is vital. In order to safely get into the air, the pilot that is waiting to take off needs to talk to other pilots on the radio and make sure they are clear. When the pilot finally gets into the air, he or she needs to let other the next plane on the runway know when they can begin their takeoff.
Although airplanes have engines, in order to be lifted into the air, wind and gravity work together. The wings are crucial during takeoff because when the engine is running, it makes air flow quickly over the wings. This causes the air to move toward the ground, making the airplane start to lift. For anybody that knows about Bernoulli’s law, they know slow-moving air is at a higher pressure than fast-moving air. The air above the plane’s wings is lower and allows it to hold the aircraft up in the air. Sometimes the wind is coming from the wrong direction so the plane may have to change its angle to take off.
If the pilot wants the plane to have more lift during takeoff, flaps located on the edge of the wings near the fuselage can be extended in order to push more air down. Airplanes with bigger wings produce more lift than those with smaller wings.
When it’s time to pick up speed, the engines are increased to their full power depending on the size, weight and type of airplane. Once they are at full power, the brakes are released and the plane starts to speed up quickly.
As soon as the plane is off the ground, the flaps have to be put back in place because they cause too much drag during the flight. The pilot needs to make sure the landing gear is put back in place if it was used as well. Then it’s time to let others know when the coast is clear and what their location is.
AirportIn.org is the best online resource to help people find airport parking, location and weather.