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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 1/5/98:
Q:
You are a passenger in a commercial jet cruising at 35,000 feet. Unknown
to you, an extremely unlikely event has occurred inside the main exit door --
the cleverly redundant latching mechanism has just failed completely. You
are on your way to the lavatory, but you confuse the restroom door with the
main exit door. You give the big handle a hard pull before the screaming
flight attendant can stop you. What happens?
A:
Nothing. The air pressure will keep the door shut no matter how hard you
push/pull. Part of the redundant system built into the door (i.e "plug").
Congratulations to Anthony Lee.
For safety reasons in a pressurized passenger plane, the doors
are designed to act as "plugs" in tapered door openings.
To open such a door (generally speaking; there are several designs),
they are pulled in first, then maneuvered out through the opening or
are rolled up on overhead tracks.
- The Aeroquiz Editor
Week of 1/12/98:
Q:
True or False: The primary job responsibility of a flight attendant is
to serve drinks and hand out peanuts.
A:
False: the real primary responsibility of a flight attendant is to overlook
all security procedures, including emergency evacuations. Hopefully, the
peanut distribution is the responsibility of which we passengers benefit
most often.
Congratulations to Nicolas Cousineau.
Author Karl Sabbaugh recounts an encounter between a flight attendant and a
five-year-old child. When asking for a drink, the child said "please."
The mother said, "You don't have to say 'please.' She's paid to serve you."
"I'm paid to look after your safety," replied the attendant, and walked away.
- The Aeroquiz Editor
Week of 1/19/98:
Q:
You are flying an airplane with a more or less conventional jet engine
through Jupiter's atmosphere. Do you need any fuel?
A:
Yes, you might need oxygen.
Congratulations to Bill Curtis.
A matter of semantics! Jupiter's atmosphere is rich in hydrogen, which
would be a ready-made "fuel" for your engine. On the other hand, you'd need
to carry an oxidizer, such as liquid oxygen.
- The Aeroquiz Editor
Week of 1/26/98:
Q:
Boeing's naming convention for their subsonic commercial jet airliners has
nearly always been two "sevens" separated by another digit. Except for the
confusing tale of the 717, which was (is?) the KC-135, and is now the
rechristened MD-95, Boeing airliners have marched from the 707 to the newest
777. What was the designation Boeing had in mind for their proposed
Supersonic Transport of the 1970s?
A:
Boeing 2707.
Congratulations to Anthony Lee.
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