The Harrier attack aircraft can take off and land vertically and also hover in the air. The exhaust from its jet engines comes out of four swivelling nozzles. For hovering, the nozzles point downwards. For forward flight, they point backwards.
Amazing! Engineers built a bizarre machine nicknamed the ‘Flying Bedstead’ to test vertical take-off and landing aircraft. It had two jet engines, and its real name was the Thrust Measuring Rig.
Which planes can take off and land in cities?
The de Havilland Dash flies between small airports with short runways that are often near city centres. The Dash can take off and land on a runway only a few hundred metres long.
Is it true? People can fly with jet-packs.
Yes. By strapping on the Bell rocket belt, a pilot could take off and hover in the air. At the beginning of the film Thunderball, James Bond escapes from his enemies with one. However the amount of fuel stored in the rocket belt limits the flying time to less than 30 seconds.
Which plane can swivel its engines?
The Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey is part helicopter, part aeroplane. It has propellers or proprotors, which swivel upright for take-off, and it works like a helicopter. To go forwards, they swivel down and it flies like a plane.
Picture Credit : Google