Many of you have probably read an article or even seen the
footage of the TransAsia Airways plane crash. This horrific event caused over 30 fatalities, but it could
have been much worse according to Steve Ganyard, ABC News aviation and military
consultant. The pilots were able
to avoid hitting apartment buildings, and the wing that hit the freeway slowed
the plane so it didn’t hit the water at as high of a velocity. Ganyard reported that one of the
engines stalled which contributed to the plane tipping to one side and the
gradual loss of lift. It is
interesting to me that throughout our class we have learned that lift was one
of the toughest problems early aviators faced, and it is still something that
can be a challenge with modern airplanes.
I also think it is very interesting that we are still at the mercy of lift. We have learned so much about it and can fly planes that look like they shouldn't even be able to fly (and in some cases, like jet fighters, can't without extreme amounts of power!). Lift is so important and so finicky. I wonder if we will every be able to build aircraft that can actively adapt to changes in lift, like a bird, or if we will forever be at its mercy?
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