When a plane, or in fact anything, travels faster than the speed of sound (i.e., breaks the sound barrier), a loud boom is heard, commonly known as a sonic boom. You may have heard that particularly loud, sometimes even painful boom when...

Bird strike on airplanes is one of the most biggest causes of concern for the airline industry and military. When a bird or a flock of birds hits an airplane, the plane may sustain some serious damage which can have disastrous...

The curved shape of an aircraft wing, known as a winglet, helps to reduce the amount of drag created by the wingtip vortices. Since the 1980s, winglets have been a major part of future aircraft designs. For some old aircraft, winglets...

This week NATO are meeting in London for their annual summit, which leads us to ask the question - what does NATO actually do? We explain who the members are, how people can join, the commitments members make and why the group exists.

What causes different kinds of weather? What is wind and where does it come from? How can pressure systems help us predict the weather? Earth Science - Weather - Learning Points. Understanding weather systems is the key to reliable...

A build up of static electricity is usually harmless, resulting in only small shocks. But in some cases it can be deadly. Discover the danger static electricity poses for helicopters and their crew. Physics - Electricity And Circuits -...

Discover the damage caused by shockwaves and how they are created by supersonic speeds. Physics - Waves - Learning Points. Waves of high pressure are produced when something moves through a medium at supersonic speed. At supersonic...

We use a plumb line and hook to find the centre of gravity of an irregularly shaped piece of card. A hole is punched in the card and it is suspended from the hook. A plumb line is used to let us draw the vertical line under the hole on...

Aeroplanes use the same forces and physical principles as birds to fly. Discover how man has copied nature to achieve flight. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Flight occurs when the upward force (lift) is greater than the downward....

Learn about Neil Armstrong, from his childhood in Ohio and his interest in airplanes to his missions in the Korean War and his time as a test pilot, to the Gemini and Apollo 11 missions.

Learn about the mysterious test site of the United States Military at the Nevada Test Site, from the design of the U-2 spy plane to the SR-71.

Learn how the Wright brothers improved their glider design by increasing wing efficiency and adding new controls, including a movable rudder. This video highlights their extensive experimentation and how these changes led to successful...

Discover how the Wright brothers designed and tested their first glider, an important step in their journey to powered flight. This video explores the concept of wing warping, the challenges of creating lift, and their initial flight...

This video covers the Wright brothers' journey from designing the Wright Flyer to achieving the first successful powered flight. It highlights the challenges they overcame, their groundbreaking 1903 flights, and the continued...

Learn more about Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who invented flight along with those who inspired them like Otto Lilienthal, the German inventor.

Explore the concepts of thrust and drag as crucial components of flight in aviation. Learn how engineers harness Newton's third law of motion to create forward propulsion through jet engines and propellers, while simultaneously...

Tragically war is a part of most countries history. It is important to remember the stark realities of war to encourage future generations to resolve their difficulties in more peaceful ways. War has also pushed the technology of...

In 1993, a tanker experienced a major oil spill off the Shetland Islands. Despite efforts to contain the spill, severe weather conditions and the ship's structural damage led to the oil spreading uncontrollably. The spill threatened the...

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an aircraft designed for medium capacity, long distance travel. It utilizes carbon composites and new technologies to reduce weight and operating costs, while offering passengers a more comfortable experience...

Plane spotting is a peculiarly British pastime practised by men with too much time on their hands. But what seems like an idiosyncratic hobby has unearthed some peculiar results that have led authorities to require plane spotters to...

The Concorde, the only supersonic passenger aircraft ever built, was once considered the future of international air travel. Despite its technological advancements and luxury appeal on the transatlantic route, the Concorde faced...

The first Supersonic Aircraft, the Concorde, flew it s maiden flight in 1969 and was heralded as a huge advancement in air travel technology. The iconic aircraft entered commercial service in 1976 and continued for 27 years.

The Helios solar powered aircraft was an experimental plane designed to fly autonomously at high altitudes for extended periods of time. With a wingspan of over 75 meters and powered by lightweight solar cells, it set a record-breaking...

On October 14, Charlies Ellwood Chuck Yeager became, at 24, the first pilot to travel faster than sound In the years following World War 2, breaking the sound barrier was a secret goal of many in the air force. The X1 rocket powered...