Discover fun facts about airplanes!
Airplanes are very big flying machines.
They are able to propel through the air with the help of wings, engines, and propellers.
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Planes come in many different shapes and sizes and are used for a number of reasons.
From flying passengers and goods long distances to getting up in the air for recreation or research, planes are one of the greatest inventions of all time.
Let’s learn some interesting airplane facts!
Airplane Facts for Kids
The First Airplane Flew in 1903
The Wright Flyer was the first plane to fly in the air.
On the beaches of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the plane flew for a whole 12 seconds and went as far as 120 feet during its first flight.
The Wright Flyer flew three more times that day with the last flight going for 59 seconds and 852 feet.
The plane was designed and flown by the Wright Brothers who became known as the pioneers of aviation!
Wow!
Planes are Fast
The speed of a plane can vary depending on the type of plane.
Regardless of the kind, planes are fast.
A commercial airliner that carries people and cargo can fly at speeds ranging from about 460 – 575MPH.
Now, the fastest jet aircraft in the world is a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
The Blackbird can reach speeds up to 2,100MPH or Mach 3.3.
That’s about four times as fast as a commercial plane!
The Sky is Full of Airplanes
At any moment in time, there are thousands of planes in the sky.
While you only may see the occasional plane glide by, the fact is that there are more like 5,000 other airplanes in the sky that you don’t see.
Why is this?
Well, planes are guided by an Air Traffic Controller which tells the planes where to fly.
Planes keep a safe distance apart from each other, and some are down low (which we can sometimes see) and most are way up high above the clouds (which we can’t see).
Amazing!
Some Planes Leave Trails in Sky
When you see a plane in the sky, sometimes they have a white trail following behind them.
This is actually condensation that you are seeing.
Airplanes release water vapor and when the temperature outside is cold, there appears to be a white fluffy tail coming from the plane.
It’s kind of like in the winter when you go outside and you can see your breath.
Cool!
The World’s Smallest Aircraft is the Microjet
Weighing just under 360 pounds, the Bede BD-5 Microjet has a wingspan of only 14.5 feet.
Although this microjet is small in size, it can still reach speeds of over 300 miles per hour!
That is fast!
The World’s Largest Aircraft is the Antonov An-225
The Antonov An-225 is not only the largest but also the longest and heaviest cargo plane in the world.
It weighs roughly 710 tons and it has been recorded to have airlifted 559,580 pounds!
Incredible!
Interesting Facts About Airplanes
There are many different types of planes and they are used for many different purposes.
Since the very first flight, airplanes have been modified and improved as they became more and more popular.
What do you think of planes?
Have you ever been on a plane?
Would you?