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Difference between revisions of "Common Questions and Answers"
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Common Questions and Answers (view source)
Revision as of 01:55, 13 April 2022
, 01:55, 13 April 2022→Airplane Design: Add Why do airplanes have three power plant control levers? Section
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It is important to note that as soon as the propeller starts turning the airplane will want to move forward. Not fast enough to take off, but often fast enough to make it impossible to get back in the cockpit.{{efn|This situation is somewhat analogous to putting a car in gear, but not pressing the gas pedal.}} Therefore, before hand-propping an airplane, the pilot must take one of two precautions. If flying alone, they will tie down the tail in such a way that it can be released after entering the cockpit. If flying with another person, that person will simply hold down the brakes with their foot. | It is important to note that as soon as the propeller starts turning the airplane will want to move forward. Not fast enough to take off, but often fast enough to make it impossible to get back in the cockpit.{{efn|This situation is somewhat analogous to putting a car in gear, but not pressing the gas pedal.}} Therefore, before hand-propping an airplane, the pilot must take one of two precautions. If flying alone, they will tie down the tail in such a way that it can be released after entering the cockpit. If flying with another person, that person will simply hold down the brakes with their foot. | ||
=== Why do airplanes have three power plant control levers? === | |||
The pilot of most World War II airplanes had to manage three different aspects of its power plant: the fuel flow, the fuel mixture, and the propeller pitch.{{efn|It is worth noting that in larger airplanes, such as the B-29, there was a dedicated crew member called the “flight engineer” who managed the power plant. In these cases, instead of the pilot manipulating the controls himself, he would request a certain speed and the flight engineer would select the power setting. | |||
Furthermore, the term “power plant” has been used in place of “engine” here because it encompasses the aircraft’s propeller as well as the engine.}} | |||
Consider that, in a modern car with an automatic transmission, there is only one acceleration control for the driver – the gas pedal – which controls the throttle.{{efn|Technically, the word “throttle” refers only to the lever controlling the fuel flow. However, the term is often incorrectly applied to any operator actuated input for an engine.}} | |||
The Fw 190 famously had an advanced engine control unit called the “Kommandogerät” that automatically managed a number of various settings in such a way that only a single throttle lever was necessary. | |||
=== What is the benefit of a variable pitch propeller? === | === What is the benefit of a variable pitch propeller? === | ||