Over the past decade or so, a scientific debate has emerged around whether rapid Arctic warming could be affecting extreme weather in the mid-latitudes. Much of this work focuses on the jet stream – the narrow current of strong winds encircling the globe around 40-50 degrees North.
Ende September entscheidet das Schweizer Stimmvolk über sechs Milliarden Franken für neue Kampfjets. Brauchen wir die überhaupt? Wären Drohnen keine Alternative? Und was kostet das Ganze wirklich? Wir beantworten die wichtigsten Fragen.
INSECT CAUSES JET CRASH When a Boeing 757 crashed in the ocean less than five minutes after takeoff in 1996, it tragically killed all 189 people on board Birgenair Flight 301. The black box revealed that the instrument panel had told the very experienced captain they were going too fast, so he slowed down too much and crashed. In reality the air speed gauge was completely malfunctioning because a small insect had plugged it. The sensor measures wind speed using a small, one-half inch hole in the exterior of the plane, and that hole had been plugged while the plane had been sitting at the airport for three weeks. It was first thought that one of the common mud dauber wasps plugged the hole with mud, but later it was proved that another wasp, called a keyhole wasp, was more likely the culprit. This wasp looks for pre-existing tunnels or holes to nest in, and seals the hole with a neat mud plug. The plug made by keyhole wasps is somewhat hidden inside the hole, so it was easily missed w
Today 16 years ago, one of the most important engineers of the 20th century passed away. Frank Whittle was well known for inventing the Jet engine that he developed independently and at the same time as German engineer Hans von Ohain.
On this day in 1996 the British Royal Air Force engineer officer Sir Frank Whittle passed away. He was best known for inventing the turbojet engine for which he received the knighthood in 1948.