If you’re a fan of travel, there’s a huge chance you’ve been in a plane. But no matter if you’ve flown once, ten times or a hundred times, we’re convinced there’s more you can learn about planes. We’ve collated our favourite 20 airplane facts to pull out at trivia night or to share with your seat mate the next time you book a flight.
1. When was the first plane invented?
If you are interested in airplane facts you’ll want to know the answer to this one. The first airplane, the Wright Flyer, was flown for a sustained period and under control by Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright in December 1903. The first flight lasted about a minute long, covered 260 metres, and had a top speed of less than 11 kilometres an hour. By 1905, the Wright brothers were flying their third iteration of the plane, the Wright Flyer III, over quite long distances. Aviation was never the same again.
2. What’s the world’s oldest airline?
The world’s oldest airline is the Dutch carrier KLM, established in 1919. Connecting the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies was one of the greatest motivator for forming the airline. In 1924, KLM operated a flight from Amsterdam to Jakarta (called Batavia at the time), the longest longest route of its day. Qantas formed just after KLM in 1920.
3. How much does a passenger plane cost?
Passenger plane prices can vary greatly depending on the type, the design, the engine choice and how an airline wants the plane customised. Boeing planes cost between US$89 million for the 737-700 and US$442 million for the 777-9. Airbus planes cost between US$81 and US$445 million, with the A330 costing around US$259 million and the A380 priced at around $445 million.
4. What’s the largest plane in the world?
The heaviest plane in the world is the Antanov AN-225, which weighs around 640 tons. The longest plane by wing span is the Stratolaunch, which was unveiled in February 2018 by a company linked to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It has a wingspan of more than 117 metres, which is much wider than the maximum width of a soccer pitch (90 metres). When it comes to passenger planes, the Airbus A380 can carry up to 850 people, making it the largest plane in the world for passenger carry capacity.
5. What’s the fastest plane in the world?
The fastest plane ever was the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which reached a speed of 3,530 kilometres per hour. The fastest commercial plane in operation today is the Boeing 747-8i, which is operated by Korean Air, Air China and Lufthansa.
6. How fast does a commercial passenger jet fly?
Commercial passenger jets usually cruise at a speed averaging 740 to 925 kilometres per hour (460 to 575 miles per hour). This speed has remained fairly consistent over years and even decades as it provides good value for money. This means planes at 30,000 feet are flying beneath the speed of sound, above which a change in design, materials and fuels costs all add up to a more expensive journey.
7. How many planes are in the air at any one time?
How many planes are in the air right now is not a mystery. In 2017, there was an average of 9,728 planes in the sky at any one time, carrying around 1.2 million people. This can go up to 20,000 during peak times, but we’ve seen a dip since late 2019 due to flight restrictions brought on by COVID.
8. Do pilots eat the same food as passengers?
Normally, pilots eat the same foods as passengers, although they are allowed to pack their own food if they’d like. While passengers are generally given multiple choices of airline meals, the pilot and co-pilot will never be given the same option to reduce the chance of food poisoning impacting the cockpit.
9. How can I upgrade from economy class to business class?
One of the only ways to upgrade from economy to business class these days is to have a high ranking on an airline’s frequent flyer program. By the way, Qantas invented Business Class in 1979. Some airlines also have features like blind bidding that allows passengers the chance to get an upgrade for a cheaper price.
10. Can a lightning strike damage a plane?
Lightning strikes on airplanes are quite common. Usually lightning will strike the wing tips or the nose of the plane and will then travel around the airplane’s fuselage before leaving the plane again. Sometimes, a lightning strike can cause a little damage, or burn, to the plane’s exterior, but generally a plane is unscathed.
Around one person in every five million commercial flights is killed. And it’s getting safer all the time. For example, 2017 was the safest year for commercial airplanes ever, with no fatal crashes. In comparison, 2005 saw more than 1,000 people killed on commercial flights. You are more likely to be killed by lightning on the ground.
12. How far can plane wings bend?
You might recall looking out a plane window and seeing the tips of a plane’s wings oscillate in the wind. Planes are put through rigorous tests before they’re given the green light to fly passengers, and often have to pass tests under conditions that would rarely, if ever, occur naturally. On most passenger planes, the plane wing can flex nearly 90 degrees before breaking.
13. How many people have a fear of flying?
According to the Victoria Department of Health, about one in six people suffer from some form of aviophobia, or fear of flying. If you are scared of flying, you certainly aren’t alone. The fear of flying can be overcome through education about aviation, information about anxiety and fear, and by experiencing safe flights.
14. How common is turbulence?
Turbulence is common, and it’s an airline fact that even people who don’t have a fear of flying can get very nervous when the plane begins to shake. What causes turbulence? Well, turbulence is caused by bodies of air moving at different speeds and in different directions. It can be uncomfortable, but it is rarely dangerous. Usually turbulence is mild, or sometimes moderate in intensity. Passenger planes usually fly around areas where the pilots suspect there might be turbulence, for example where they see thunder clouds, or when they receive reports from other pilots. However, clear-air turbulence can occur without warning.
15. How common is severe turbulence?
Severe air turbulence is rare, and commercial pilots might experience it only a couple of times in their career. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, around 35 passengers in the U.S. get injured every year by turbulence, usually because they didn’t have their seat belt buckled once turbulence occurred.
16. I have a fear of flying and I’m worried about turbulence, where’s the best place to sit on a plane?
The most comfortable place to sit on a plane, according to pilot Patrick Smith, is in the middle of the plane near the wings. This is where you’ll be closest to the plane’s centre of gravity and lift. Seats closer to the rear of the plane will experience more movement—one of the most practical airplane facts if you’re looking for the best seat to pick.
17. How long does a pilot fly the plane for?
A pilot on a passenger plane usually flies the plane for the first few minutes during take off and again just before landing. During the rest of the flight the autopilot is in charge, although pilots are usually monitoring the instruments.
18. Do pilots fall asleep on passenger planes?
Pilots do sometimes fall asleep on planes, but most passenger planes have an automatic warning system that sounds an alarm if a pilot hasn’t moved for a while. On long flights, pilots will be given designated rest times, alternating with their co-pilot.
19. If a plane has to dump fuel what happens to it?
In an emergency, a pilot might have to turn back, or head to a nearby airport. If there is too much fuel onboard to land safely, the pilot might choose to dump the plane’s fuel before landing. Most of this fuel evaporates and doesn’t reach land or the ocean.
20. What percentage of the world’s population has flown in a plane?
Knowing this figure for certain is difficult, as there is no official database recording who has been on a plane. But, informal surveys and industry experts reveal some guesses. Former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg states that less than 20% of the world’s population has ever flown in a plane. Other estimates put it at less than 10%. If you’ve taken a flight, you’re one of the few people in the world to experience flying at high speed, thousands of feet up in the air.
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