10 Little Known Facts About Air Travel

It’s been well over a hundred years since man flew for the first time. When the Wright Brothers got a plane off the ground, it heralded in a new era and we’ve been flying ever since. These days, no one bats an eyelid when you catch a flight from America to England – it’s just something you do and it seems as simple as catching the bus to work for a lot of people.

Indeed, many of us give air travel a second thought. We just book the tickets, queue up in the airport and get on the plane. The only time we do give it a second thought is when delays occur and we’re left grumping!

But air travel is something many of us now take for granted, and it’s a lot more complicated than we think. This article about 10 little known facts about air travel might shock you, and even scare you a tad. If you’re ready for it, let’s do it!

10 Interesting Facts About Air Travel

The Pilot and Co-Pilot Eat Different Pre-Flight Meals 

No, the reason they do this isn’t because the pilot gets treated to a better meal because he’s the pilot. It’s so that there’s no risk of them both being struck down with food poisoning during a flight.

Pretty smart thinking!

This is The Reason Most People Argue On a Plane 

Okay, we know kids will argue about anything. “Mom, he still my toy.” “Mom, I need to go to the bathroom but it stinks.”

And the classic: “ARE WE THERE YET.”

Adults? Adults have their own problems to deal with.

According to statistics, 75% of in-flight arguments between adults are caused by passengers reclining their seats.

LOL, right?

Usually this takes place in economy class.

True, it is pretty annoying. But surely there are other things to argue about?

This is Why You’re Offered So Much Water On Your Flight 

Ever noticed that cabin crew seem to be constantly offering water around?

“Yeah, what is with that?”

The answer lies in the fact, when you’re up in the air on a plane, your body loses around 1.5-litres of water during a 3-hour flight.

This means that it could lose as much as 4.5-litres from a 9-hour flight!

That’s a shocking amount of water, so it’s no surprise that cabin crew are always trying to top you up. Good on them, we say!

Pilots Have A Lot Of Power

When you’re on a plane, there are no armed guards, no police, no nothing like that.

You might find a doctor up there but that’s about it.

As such, the pilot has lots of powers. They’re the main guys who can even arrest you if you were out of line!

Pilots can also issue you with a fine and – check this out – they can even take a dying passengers will.

All this while flying a plane – is it any wonder they’re under so much stress?!

But yeah, basically, if you don’t want to spend the flight in handcuffs, don’t annoy the pilot!

You Can’t Actually Lock Yourself In The Bathroom 

Okay, so you can flip a switch so that other passengers can’t disturb you while you’re going about your business. BUT flight attendants can totally open the door and enter if they suspect you’re getting up to no good.

It’s hardly good for your privacy but, hey, it prevents people from joining the mile high club, huh.

There’s a Reason For The Tiny Hole in the Plane Window 

If you’re super observant, you’ll have noticed a tiny hole in the plane window. As it turns out, that hole is there for a good reason.

As well as keeping in warm air so that things don’t become too cold at 35,000 feet, it also acts as a pressure regulator.

In other words, in case anything dangerous happens to the window’s outer pane, the pressure won’t smash the inner pane.

In other words, there’s no need to worry that you’ll suddenly be breathing in loads of oxygen while miles up in the air.

Pollutants Emitted by Planes Kill More People Than Plane Crashes 

Here’s a really weird and totally little known fact about air travel: You’re more likely to die from toxic pollutants emitted by plane engines than you are likely to die in a plane crash.

Amazing, har?!

Not even a thousand people per year die in a plane crash. The total number is actually quite small.

On the other hand, over 10,000 people deaths per year are caused by plane exhausts.

Turbulence Doesn’t Cause the Plane to Drop Much At All 

Turbulence can be terrifying.

One moment, you’re happily sailing along in the air, without a care in the world when BAM! You’re rocking from side to side.

You’re also going up and down.

You’re terrified and you’re holding on for dear life.

But while it often feels like you’ve just plummeted 10,000 feet, turbulence doesn’t cause a plane to drop many feet at all. In fact, it probably causes a plane to drop 100 feet at the most.

In general, a plane won’t drop more than 100 feet. Use this knowledge to reassure you the next time the plane you’re in suffers from a bout of turbulence.

Here Is How Many Parts Make Up a Boeing 747

Boeing 747 are BIG planes.

They’re also commonly used planes. When you take to the skies, it’s highly likely that you’re in a Boeing 747.

If you’ve never stopped to think how many parts they’re made of, check this out: Boeing 747’s are made up of 6 million parts.

That’s almost as many stars as there are in the Universe. Maybe.

British Airways Passengers Like to Eat A LOT Of Caviar 

Airplane food can be pretty gross at times. It does a job but it’s not always the best.

Well, that is unless you take a British Airways flight.

See, British Airways passengers get through SIX TONS of caviar each year.

Wow.

Do you know other facts about air travel? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Stay happy!

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from Beauty And Tips Magazine