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Multidisciplinary
Design, Analysis, and
Optimization Branch
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EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES: THE NASA AEROQUIZ
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Week of 12/4/00:
Q:
Aircraft landing gear often retract and deploy on hinges in a
fore-and-aft direction. Aircraft design engineers, if at all possible,
design these gear systems so that they retract in the forward direction
and deploy in the aft direction. Why does it make a difference?
A:
Having the gear extend aft and retract forward
would aid in getting the gear down and locked when there is no
hydraulic power to operate them. The airflow would aid the
extension rather than hinder it.
Congratulations to Trevis Ishikawa.
150 knot approach speeds for large commercial airliners are not uncommon.
In the presence of this "wind," gear that deploys in the aft direction
will easily free-fall down. If an emergency hand-cranked gear deployment
becomes necessary, a forward-deploying gear design would not be appreciated!
- The Aeroquiz Editor
Week of 12/11/00:
This week's question was submitted by Andrew White!
Q:
Everyone knows who was the first man on the moon, and "pub quiz"
experts in the UK pride themselves in the knowledge that Michael
Collins was the third member of the Apollo 11 crew. But who knows
who was the last man to leave the surface of the moon?
A:
Eugene Cernan!
Congratulations to Ron Laird.
A dubious honor, Eugene "Geno" Cernan was the last to leave the moon's
surface as commander of Apollo 17. Cernan was a space veteran who also
flew aboard Gemini 9 and Apollo 10.
- The Aeroquiz Editor
Week of 12/18/00:
This week's question was submitted by Ron Laird!
Q:
A B757 is going on a relatively short flight from STL-ORD.
Shortly before departure, a large shipment of gold is placed
aboard the B757. The gold must be shipped ASAP, and fortunately for
the financially troubled carrier, a large amount of money is being paid
to them to expedite the shipment. Maximum gross takeoff weight has
not been exceeded, nor has maximum landing weight been exceeded, but
unfortunately shortly after takeoff while in a fifteen degree bank
turn, below design maneuvering speed, and while experiencing moderate
turbulence, the wings depart the B757. Why has this unfortunate
incident occurred?
No one got the correct answer. The question stands another week!
Week of 12/25/00:
This week's question was submitted by Ron Laird!
Q:
A B757 is going on a relatively short flight from STL-ORD.
Shortly before departure, a large shipment of gold is placed
aboard the B757. The gold must be shipped ASAP, and fortunately for
the financially troubled carrier, a large amount of money is being paid
to them to expedite the shipment. Maximum gross takeoff weight has
not been exceeded, nor has maximum landing weight been exceeded, but
unfortunately shortly after takeoff while in a fifteen degree bank
turn, below design maneuvering speed, and while experiencing moderate
turbulence, the wings depart the B757. Why has this unfortunate
incident occurred?
A:
The maximum zero fuel weight has been exceeded.
Congratulations to Carrie Perkowski.
The maximum zero fuel weight had been exceeded, thus putting too much
stress on the wing carrythrough structure, which then failed.
This can be a fairly easy mistake to make on a short flight with
little fuel but lots of payload, and is the reason why strict adherence
to procedures and regulations must be followed.
- The Aeroquiz Editor
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