Looking for fun aviation facts

Posted by bksting@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 10 comments

Hello everyone. So, at my job I have been presenting fun or interesting aviation facts on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, after doing it for so long, I am running dry on facts or events to present. I was hoping you all could help give me some inspiration of what to research next. I'm looking for any and all fun, funny, interesting, or just bizarre aviation facts or events that happened. It can be military or civilian, as long as it is aviation related. I appreciate all responses, and thank you all for any and all help.

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practicalcabinet@reddit

Tunnock's Teacakes were banned from the UK's V-bomber fleet, because the marshmallow would expand at altitude and cause them to burst, which would make a mess.

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exurl@reddit

The Battle of Palmdale
"The destabilizing longitudinal effect of the flexible bent-up sweptback wing was discovered late in the [B-47] development program and led to great concern until it was found, as a matter of coincidence, to be cancelled by the bending effect of the rear fuselage and the resulting horizontal tail increase in angle of attack" [src]
Scaled Ares and all of its design quirks (offset intake, offset fuselage, offset gun)
The story of Aerosonde Laima
The story of Gossamer Condor, Gossamer Albatross, and MIT's Daedalus
The famously convoluted aerial refueling in operation Black Buck
The E-7's radar structure is called the "top hat"
The Concorde's actively controlled engine inlets were the first use of flight-critical digital control systems in commercial aviation
NOAA announced this year that it is replacing its P-3 fleet (which is an Electra derivative; Electra first flew in 1957) with C-130 (first flew in 1954)

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YogurtclosetSouth991@reddit

Lear jets have drag chutes to aid in stopping on slippery runways.

Late one night we were clearing the run way during a blizzard and had a US medevac land (we are in Canada). It was after FFS hours. Aircraft landed but remained on the runway for several minutes. Confused, we radioed him on the air frequency, which we weren't supposed to do. Pilot informed us that the copilot was out gathering the drag chute.

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MattTheMechan1c@reddit

The Boeing 747 had a vital role in the manufacturing process of the Cadillac Allante. The Allante had an intricate manufacturing process where the body was made by Pininfarina in Turin, Italy then they’re flown to Detroit to be mated to the frame and engine that’s made in the US. Each 747 was specially equipped to transport the body shells and each plane could carry 56 units.

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Terrible_Log3966@reddit

The 1969 Football war where Corsair fought Corsair.

Likewise , Spitfire vs Spitfire in the early days of when Israel was founded.

The concorde millenium flights

Modern day luxury air cruises

The resurrection of an extinct type (Fokkerd DXXI)

Alan Pollock and his Tower Bridge visit.

The first Black Buck raid

The Harrier that landed on the spanish cargo ship

The Vulcan that shut down Rio airport

The Daily mail race featuring the Harrier Gr.1

Albury and the Uiver DC-2 during the London - Melbourne race of 1934

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Hot_Net_4845@reddit

In 1984, a British Airways Helicopters Boeing Vertol (G-BISO) ditched near the Shetland Islands. It floated for 85 minutes, after which, it capsized and sank. Everyone was rescued. It was later dredged, and despite suffering substantial damage from the salt water, and more from being brought back up, it was repaired. It is still in service today with Colombia Helicopters, as N235CH.

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