My Science School

INSIDE AN AIRLINER

Seated at the controls on the flight deck are the pilot and co-pilot. For much of the journey, the controls are switched to an automatic control system, or autopilot. This uses computers to sense outside conditions, such as wind speed, and to manipulate the controls accordingly to travel along a pre-set route. All the crews have to do is to keep an eye on the monitors to check that all systems are functioning correctly.

For safety reasons, a Boeing 747 is equipped with a voice recorder and a flight recorder, sometimes known as the “black box” (although it is actually a bright orange colour).These instruments record every manoeuvre the aircraft makes. In the event of an incident or a crash, the recordings can be played back and provide evidence for what went wrong.

Six display screens - three for each pilot - give all the information needed to fly the plane. The Primary Flight Display shows the aero-plane’s attitude - the angle at which it is flying in relation to the Earth. It also indicates the plane’s course, its speed and the height of the plane above the land or sea. The Navigation Display plots the plane’s position on a map of the route. The Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) gives information about the operation of the aero-plane’s systems and engines.

Air pressure, which keeps oxygen supplied to our lungs, is much lower at cruising altitudes (about 10,000 metres). Air is pumped into the pressurized passenger cabin to keep it at comfortable levels.

In a jet engine, air is drawn in, compressed by spinning blades, mixed with kerosene fuel and burned in a combustion chamber. The hot exhaust gas escapes at speed through the rear of the engine, turning a turbine (which drives the compressor) as it spurts past. The backward-flowing air provides a forward thrust, like the kick of a rifle after a bullet is fired.

Picture Credit : Google