#Airplanes

[c-rowlesdraws]

Did You Know: if you get to the airport early enough in the morning, you can look through the big windows and watch them shovel oats and alfalfa into big troughs for the planes

[prokopetz]

There are alleged incidents from the earliest days of military aviation of enemy recon pilots taking potshots at each other with handguns because aircraft-mounted weapons hadn't been invented yet and they couldn't use rifles because they needed to use the other hand to fly the plane. I'm not aware that anyone ever actually got shot down in this way, but imagine if you did. Imagine tootling around in your shitty little wooden-frame biplane when another guy in a shitty little wooden-frame biplane comes flying up to you and shoots your plane with a revolver. Imagine surviving the resulting crash and having to explain that this is why you went down.

[todays-xkcd]

Now that airlines have started adding wheel locks to their drink carts, less than half of flights have one accidentally fall out through the hole.

Typical Seating Chart [Explained]

Transcript Under the Cut

Typical Airliner Seating Chart [Labeled items of a plane from front to back:]

[Front of plane:] Cowcatcher

[Cockpit (2 seats):] Please only pick these seats if you're a pilot

[First Class section (22 seats):] Main stage Mosh pit Various fancy classes

[Wings (2 x 55 seats):] Some airplane companies waste this space

[Ends of wings (2 x 1 seat):] Lookout

[Propellers (2 x 1 seat):] Passenger has to pedal

[Middle of plane, just behind wings:] Hole for trash

[Left side of plane, behind wings (7 seats):] Sidecar

[Back of plane (24 seats):] Extra middle seats

[Just in front of tail (4 seats):] Bumper car seating

[Tail (1 seat):] Penthouse

[Hanging off of left side of tail (3 seats):] Extra legroom

[Tail (4 seats):] Tail gunners (Must protect plane from pursuers but earn extra miles)

[Separate, smaller plane to the right (14 seats):] Fighter escort

[intersectionalpraxis]

Someone shared this on Twitter. Boeing has blood on their hands in many ways.

[coolthingsguyslike]

[chasingrainbowsforever]

~ Teal and Yellow ~

[usnatarchives]

Tailspin Tapestries: The Colorful Faces of WWII Aircraft 🃏

Nose art, the decorative painting or design on the fuselage of military aircraft, has a storied history that peaked during World War II. This vibrant, often cheeky artwork served as a morale booster for the crew, adding a personal touch to the grimness of war and providing a sentimental tie to the home they were fighting to protect. The practice traces its origins to Italian and German pilots in World War I, but it was during World War II that American airmen embraced this form of expression with unparalleled creativity.

World War II represented the golden age of nose art, with American crews stationed in Europe and the Pacific leading in creativity. Artworks ranged from ferocious animals and cartoon characters to pin-up girls and patriotic symbols, each with a unique name that reflected the aircraft's character, the crew's aspirations, or an inside joke among the squadron. Names like "Memphis Belle," "Enola Gay," and "Sack Time" became as legendary as the aircraft themselves, symbolizing the spirit of the crew and their mission.

Nose art was crucial to boosting morale among crew members, providing a sense of individuality and ownership over their aircraft in an otherwise regimented and dehumanizing environment. This artwork fostered an emotional attachment to their planes, with each piece a vivid manifestation of the crew's bond. It represented a piece of home and personality in foreign skies, a reminder of what they fought for and the camaraderie that sustained them.

The subject matter of nose art varied widely, reflecting diverse personalities within the crews. Cartoons and comic characters like Donald Duck and Bugs Bunny were favorites for their humor and relatability. Artwork also featured fierce sharks, tigers, and eagles, symbolizing the aircraft and crew's power and aggression.

Many nose art pieces were painted by the crew members themselves, though some squads had designated artists. Individuals like Don Allen, who painted nearly 100 pieces of nose art, were celebrated for their contributions. Using whatever materials were at hand, these artists created masterpieces under challenging conditions, showcasing remarkable ingenuity and talent.

The practice of nose art declined after World War II, largely due to stricter military regulations and the evolving nature of warfare. However, its legacy endures, captivating historians, veterans, and enthusiasts. World War II nose art remains a powerful reminder of the human element amidst war's machinery, a colorful testament to the resilience, creativity, and spirit of those who served.

The National Archives holds a treasure trove of photographs featuring this iconic nose art, often discovered in ordinary crew photos where the art itself isn't the primary focus of the image. This creates a fascinating treasure hunt for enthusiasts and researchers alike, offering glimpses into the past where this artwork accompanies stories of bravery, camaraderie, and the personal touches that made these aircraft more than just machines of war.

More resources on the National Archives website and Catalog:

https://nara.getarchive.net/topics/nose+art https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/photos

[godbirdart]

one of my favorite passtimes is loading up the flight tracker site to watch the planes go around. it's like watching bugs on the sidewalk.

sometimes you see neat things, like the maintenance vehicles dodging planes on the taxiways

planes racing each other in the bering sea

or you watch a flight make it within an agonizing inch of its destination only to be bounced back to its country of origin for reasons you'll never know but will be forever curious about

[thisisyourauthorspeaking]

NOTE: Although I am a government-certified flight instructor, nothing I say on this blog constitutes flight instruction.

THIS BLOG IS FOR WRITING ADVICE AND BASIC EXPLANATIONS ONLY - I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU DO WITH THE INFORMATION I GIVE YOU!

YOU WILL DIE IF YOU TRY TO FLY A PLANE WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING

Hello!

My name is Azuko, and outside of tumblr, I'm a flight instructor!

What motivated me to create this blog was seeing rampant misconceptions and inaccuracies about aviation and air travel in various fics and pieces of media.

So, given that I get paid to teach people to fly, I figured it could be fun to make a tumblr blog where I ramble about flying and provide advice for writing accurate situations involving airplanes.

My area of expertise is fixed-wing light aircraft, but being a flight instructor, it is my job to know how to find appropriate sources for information about any aircraft or topic related to flight safety.

[heartnosekid]

airplane in the clouds resin teacup ☁️ | source

[businessmemes]

I feel bad for Derrick, but he knew the risk -- business is all about risk.

[sovietpostcards]

Dasha the bear cub flies to Prague. Photo by Vladimir Medvedev, 1987.

[nocternalrandomness]

"Bomber Legends"

[xr250r]

F-86 (Korean Era)

[coolthingsguyslike]

[gobblewonkrs]

Haha. May have actually done another one last night. Granted I had the sketch done a bit ago. Either way. Love drawin these big silly guys...