Posted on

Video answers: Building the 737MAX

Here are the answers to last Friday’s video, enjoy!

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. It has paper checklists, a seven-step startup process, a warning light, physical cables to link fight controls to flight surfaces, all of which made it different to other modern aircraft.
  2. The original plan was to replace the 737 with an all-new aircraft.
  3. Fuel efficiency was less important for short-haul flight because these planes traditionally spent less time in the air per day than long-haul aircraft.
  4. Airlines are starting to use narrowbody aircraft for longer and longer flights.
  5. The American Airlines order for an ‘updated’ 737 convinced Boeing to modify the 737NG instead of building a totally new airplane.
  6. It would want a less modern, less efficient plane because they’re cheaper to buy and don’t require expensive training sessions to get their pilots type rated.
  7. Boeing had to move the engine higher and further forward on the wing to be able to fit it with the new, more efficient engine.
  8. MCAS was necessary because the new engine position and increased height of the landing gear created a tendency for the plane to pitch up more than the previous generation.
  9. It was likely caused by a malfunctioning MCAS sensor which kept pushing the plane’s nose down.

Follow us on twitter here, Facebook here for more great content!

Posted on

Video: Building the 737MAX

This week’s video discusses the circumstances that made Boeing decide to build the 737.

Try to answer the following questions about the video and come back on Monday for the answers.

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

Continue reading Video: Building the 737MAX
Posted on

Video answers: Why are the 737 engines flat?

Here are the answers to the previous video, enjoy!

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. It was designed in 1960s.
  2. Designing it to be low to the ground made it easier to load by baggage handlers.
  3. This characteristic became an issue for the 737 designers when they wanted to update it with turbofan engines which were much bigger than the previous turbojet ones.
  4. The solution was to redesign the engine pylons and move the engines further forward to the front of the wings and raising them a little. Also, by making the engine intake a little flatter they were able to gain a few more centimetres of clearance from the ground.
  5. Landings are sometimes performed with a slight bank angle and this could cause engines which are low to the ground to hit the runway, so making them as high as possible is desirable.
  6. A lot of equipment was moved to the side of the engines, making them wider.
  7. The MAX has a higher ground clearance to accommodate the new LEAP engines. This means that the MAX doesn’t have the iconic engine shape of former 737 generations.

Follow us on twitter here, Facebook here or Google+ here for more great content!

Posted on

Video: Why are the 737 engines flat?

This week’s video describes why the 737 engines have their iconic shape.

Try to answer the following questions about the video and come back on Monday for the answers.

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. When was the original 737 designed?
  2. What characteristic made it easier to be loaded with baggage?
  3. When did this characteristic become an issue for the design of the plane?
  4. What was the solution to this issue?
  5. How is this issue affected by the landing procedure?
  6. Why is the engine a lot wider than it is high?
  7. How is the ground clearance different on the MAX?

Follow us on twitter here, Facebook here or Google+ here for more great content!

Have a great weekend!

Why are the Boeing 737NG engines FLAT?

Have you ever noticed that the lower part of the Boeing 737NG engines appear flat? What is the reason for this and a few more interesting details will be covered in todays video. Enjoy!

Posted on

Video answers: ‘Boeing’s 737 MAX test plane’

Here are the answers to last Friday’s video, enjoy!

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. They needed a reboot because the previous version was getting a little old and ‘long in the tooth’.
  2. It’s got new engines, split-tip winglets, airframe updates and some new technology in the cockpit.
  3. It’s 14% more efficient and 40% quieter.
  4. The test pilots fly the plane at the edge of the envelope, sometimes beyond the edge to make sure it’s safe for the flying public.
  5. They use it to take measurements of what’s happening behind the plane.

Follow us on twitter here, Facebook here or Google+ here for more great content!

Posted on

Video: ‘Boeing’s 737 MAX test plane’

Fly High English - Video

This week’s video reports on Boeing’s 737 MAX test plane. Watch the video to find out more.

Try to answer the following questions about the video and come back on Monday for the answers.

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. Why did Boeing need a reboot of the 737?
  2. What’s new about the MAX?
  3. How much more efficient is it?
  4. How do the pilots test the plane?
  5. What do they use the clear plastic tubing for?

Follow us on twitter here, Facebook here or Google+ here for more great content!

Have a great weekend!

Step Inside Boeing’s Elaborate New 737 Test Plane | WIRED

Boeing is putting its newest plane, the 737 MAX, through a grueling series of test flights. Onboard, instead of seats and a meal service, a team of engineers captures data on its performance, and eats snacks from a cooler. Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube?