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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.

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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?

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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!

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Video answers: ‘What makes airplanes light enough to fly?’

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

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. They’re engineered to withstand 1.5 times the most extreme forces they would meet in flight.
  2. Aluminium was the standard material used by manufacturers in aircraft design for decades.
  3. It was their choice because it is lighter and much cheaper than titanium, which was another possibility.
  4. About 20% of a modern-day plane is pure aluminium.
  5. Nowadays manufactures like to use composites, which are light, flexible, strong, and can be easily moulded into complex shapes.

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Video: ‘What makes airplanes light enough to fly?’

Fly High English - Video

This week’s video describes how airplane manufacturers have strived to make their planes as light and as strong as possible. Watch the video to find out how it’s done.

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

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. How strong are the wings of the 787?
  2. What was the default material used by aircraft manufacturers to build planes for decades?
  3. Why was this material the choice?
  4. How much of this pure material is used in modern-day jets?
  5. What is current aircraft manufacturers favourite building material?

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Have a great weekend!

What Makes Airplanes Light Enough To Fly?

The materials used for aircraft engineering have changed considerably since the advent of flight. How do engineers choose what airplanes are made of? How Close Are We To Star Trek’s Warp Drive?