3 ms·

i feel like it doesn't take a whole page to explain that planes are moving forward faster than they are gaining lift when taking off.

larkeith 9y ago
Or that the tail doesn't hit the runway because it's angled upwards.
- KGIII 9y ago
  I guess you can make it hit the runway, if you want. I watched a doc with them testing planes and they, quite literally, put some lumber on the tail to protect it from damaging the metal when they hit the runway with the tail. As in, they were intentionally trying to hit the runway with the tail.
  - mikeash 9y ago
    Yes, the actual answer to the question is "because the pilots are trained not to hit the tail, since it's expensive and makes the passengers nervous." It's a decent little article but it seems to not quite be on the same topic as the headline suggests.
    - nopzor 9y ago
      Yes, pilots are trained, and the design helps too. You first rotate the airframe at Vr speed (velocity rotate). Pilots are trained on their aircraft how much to rotate, and the design of the rear fuselage allows for initial rotation. Once you have rotated (ie. nose up) you wait for positive rate of climb, and you depart the earth, and possibly even increase your rate of climb. All without hitting the runway.
    - KGIII 9y ago
      Yeah, someone has added a video of this and it's currently at the top. I don't think I'd like to try that.
      - mikeash 9y ago
        I know of at least one major crash caused by a tail strike, although the problem took years to manifest after a bad repair job: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines_Flight_123 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines_Flight_123 (Worth noting that this airplane's tail strike happened on landing, not takeoff, but it's bad either way.) Definitely best to avoid them if you can....
        eternalban 9y ago
        "Explosive decompression": https://youtu.be/awMHJ_ZZF5Y https://youtu.be/awMHJ_ZZF5Y
- mulmen 9y ago
  That doesn't prevent tail strikes. The article provides many examples of how the (angled) tail of an aircraft can strike the runway during takeoff and landing.
goialoq 9y ago
horizontal velocity has nothing to do with it. It's because they gain a bit of lift before increasing angle
- mulmen 9y ago
  Horizontal velocity and lift are at least correlated. The reason the tail of the plane does not strike the ground in a proper takeoff rotation is because the pilot make sure the aircraft has sufficient speed (and indirectly, lift) to perform the rotation maneuver. The airspeed at which the rotation can happen is calculated based on weight and loading.
skj 9y ago
Perhaps an entire page is needed to explain that what you suggest is not at all the reason :)
coderdude 9y ago
When the story takes off, why doesn't the content hit the eyes?

larkeith 9y ago

Or that the tail doesn't hit the runway because it's angled upwards.

KGIII 9y ago
I guess you can make it hit the runway, if you want. I watched a doc with them testing planes and they, quite literally, put some lumber on the tail to protect it from damaging the metal when they hit the runway with the tail. As in, they were intentionally trying to hit the runway with the tail.
- mikeash 9y ago
  Yes, the actual answer to the question is "because the pilots are trained not to hit the tail, since it's expensive and makes the passengers nervous." It's a decent little article but it seems to not quite be on the same topic as the headline suggests.
  - nopzor 9y ago
    Yes, pilots are trained, and the design helps too. You first rotate the airframe at Vr speed (velocity rotate). Pilots are trained on their aircraft how much to rotate, and the design of the rear fuselage allows for initial rotation. Once you have rotated (ie. nose up) you wait for positive rate of climb, and you depart the earth, and possibly even increase your rate of climb. All without hitting the runway.
  - KGIII 9y ago
    Yeah, someone has added a video of this and it's currently at the top. I don't think I'd like to try that.
    - mikeash 9y ago
      I know of at least one major crash caused by a tail strike, although the problem took years to manifest after a bad repair job: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines_Flight_123 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines_Flight_123 (Worth noting that this airplane's tail strike happened on landing, not takeoff, but it's bad either way.) Definitely best to avoid them if you can....
      - eternalban 9y ago
        "Explosive decompression": https://youtu.be/awMHJ_ZZF5Y https://youtu.be/awMHJ_ZZF5Y
mulmen 9y ago
That doesn't prevent tail strikes. The article provides many examples of how the (angled) tail of an aircraft can strike the runway during takeoff and landing.

goialoq 9y ago

horizontal velocity has nothing to do with it. It's because they gain a bit of lift before increasing angle

mulmen 9y ago
Horizontal velocity and lift are at least correlated. The reason the tail of the plane does not strike the ground in a proper takeoff rotation is because the pilot make sure the aircraft has sufficient speed (and indirectly, lift) to perform the rotation maneuver. The airspeed at which the rotation can happen is calculated based on weight and loading.

skj 9y ago

Perhaps an entire page is needed to explain that what you suggest is not at all the reason :)

coderdude 9y ago

When the story takes off, why doesn't the content hit the eyes?