Aviation Myths

aviatorrbt

aviatorrbt

New Member
does anyone know of any crazy myths that involve either planes or just aviation itself? i am just wondering how many are actually true. i just think it would be a fun thread.
 
The "danger of the downwind turn" and "getting on the step" come to mind immediately.

Then, of course, there are the whole slew of myths about aerodynamics, stability and control, that are repeated by most of the GA community, amongst others.
 
Aviation Myth?

"The free happy hour"

Crew scheduling ever saying: "We have a great deal for you, give us a call at 800-325..."
 
I'd never heard the one about "on step" until a couple of months ago, then again I try to stay away from the Crusty Ole Coffee Pot Pilots, but the logic just totally escapes me.
Though I did used to scoot my seat back all the way on long XC in my 172 and it always seemed like I got an extra knot or two...
 
themctm said:
I'd never heard the one about "on step" until a couple of months ago, then again I try to stay away from the Crusty Ole Coffee Pot Pilots, but the logic just totally escapes me.
Though I did used to scoot my seat back all the way on long XC in my 172 and it always seemed like I got an extra knot or two...
Click to expand...

By doing that you just made the airplane "lighter" so you end up going faster for the same power setting. It has nothing to do with the "step" myth but just the simple fact that you moved the CG aft a little bit which meant that the tail had to generate less of a downforce which reduces the aerodynamic weight of the airplane. The wings of a 1,000lbs airplane in flight may actually be supporting 1,200lbs if the tail down force is 200lbs. So when you slide your seat back you're reducing the required tail down force essentially, losing weight.

Wow and now I sound like a major nerd and a know it all.
 
seagull said:
The "danger of the downwind turn" and "getting on the step" come to mind immediately.

Then, of course, there are the whole slew of myths about aerodynamics, stability and control, that are repeated by most of the GA community, amongst others.
Click to expand...

I have no opinion about "getting on the step," but it sounds plausible ... from a theorhetical point of view (because of that drag polar thingy) ... :o

Ewp, wait no, you'd have to be operating on the backside of that there power curve to get any benefit from "getting on the step" and you'd have to be kind of a tool to level off like that. Nevermind

What's "danger of the downwind turn?"
 
The faster an airplane goes in a dive the harder it is to pull out of.

err unless the critical mach number comes into play here...
 
"Oh you fly one of those Cessnas? Aren't those like very unsafe? I always hear them on the news crashing"

"A single engine Cessna crashed today at..." (news media trying to report a Piper Warrior crash... all single-engine GA aircrafts are "Cessnas")
 
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