Mark Drella

Because what happens is when you're rolling down the runway, as the pilot then moves the stick, then the tail tilts the entire airplane, including the wing. And then once the angle of attack is such that the resulting pressure difference equals the weight, the airplane lifts off the ground. And then it kind of keeps going.

Because what happens is when you're rolling down the runway, as the pilot then moves the stick, then the tail tilts the entire airplane, including the wing. And then once the angle of attack is such that the resulting pressure difference equals the weight, the airplane lifts off the ground. And then it kind of keeps going.

Because what happens is when you're rolling down the runway, as the pilot then moves the stick, then the tail tilts the entire airplane, including the wing. And then once the angle of attack is such that the resulting pressure difference equals the weight, the airplane lifts off the ground. And then it kind of keeps going.

Well, it's basically the atmosphere is not perfectly still. So if the airplane flies into air that's rising or descending or just there's a lot of turbulence mixing air, so to speak, then that will modify the pressures on the wings and the fluctuating pressures then kind of fluctuate the airplane. That's what you're feeling. And airplanes are designed to withstand very, very extreme turbulence.

Well, it's basically the atmosphere is not perfectly still. So if the airplane flies into air that's rising or descending or just there's a lot of turbulence mixing air, so to speak, then that will modify the pressures on the wings and the fluctuating pressures then kind of fluctuate the airplane. That's what you're feeling. And airplanes are designed to withstand very, very extreme turbulence.

Well, it's basically the atmosphere is not perfectly still. So if the airplane flies into air that's rising or descending or just there's a lot of turbulence mixing air, so to speak, then that will modify the pressures on the wings and the fluctuating pressures then kind of fluctuate the airplane. That's what you're feeling. And airplanes are designed to withstand very, very extreme turbulence.

Even the most violent imaginable turbulence that you've ever felt, the airplane can easily withstand loads maybe three times bigger. So there's a very big safety margin on how aircraft are built. In fact, I can't remember hearing of an airplane breaking up in the midair because of turbulence. It just doesn't happen.

Even the most violent imaginable turbulence that you've ever felt, the airplane can easily withstand loads maybe three times bigger. So there's a very big safety margin on how aircraft are built. In fact, I can't remember hearing of an airplane breaking up in the midair because of turbulence. It just doesn't happen.

Even the most violent imaginable turbulence that you've ever felt, the airplane can easily withstand loads maybe three times bigger. So there's a very big safety margin on how aircraft are built. In fact, I can't remember hearing of an airplane breaking up in the midair because of turbulence. It just doesn't happen.

Well, obviously, you know, if you drive off a cliff, bad things will happen. Or if you drive into a rock face, same thing with an airplane. I mean, that's an operator error. There's nothing wrong with the airplane. It's just it was operated incorrectly. That's why you have two pilots. So we can imagine having... two drivers in your car. If one falls asleep, it's okay. The other one's there.

Well, obviously, you know, if you drive off a cliff, bad things will happen. Or if you drive into a rock face, same thing with an airplane. I mean, that's an operator error. There's nothing wrong with the airplane. It's just it was operated incorrectly. That's why you have two pilots. So we can imagine having... two drivers in your car. If one falls asleep, it's okay. The other one's there.

Well, obviously, you know, if you drive off a cliff, bad things will happen. Or if you drive into a rock face, same thing with an airplane. I mean, that's an operator error. There's nothing wrong with the airplane. It's just it was operated incorrectly. That's why you have two pilots. So we can imagine having... two drivers in your car. If one falls asleep, it's okay. The other one's there.

The airplane is designed to almost fly hands-off. Another way to say it is, for example, if you're cruising your car down the highway, and you let go of the steering wheel, nothing will really happen, right? Because the car is passively stable. Passive stability is a good thing. It means that if you don't do anything, it'll just keep doing what it's doing.

The airplane is designed to almost fly hands-off. Another way to say it is, for example, if you're cruising your car down the highway, and you let go of the steering wheel, nothing will really happen, right? Because the car is passively stable. Passive stability is a good thing. It means that if you don't do anything, it'll just keep doing what it's doing.

The airplane is designed to almost fly hands-off. Another way to say it is, for example, if you're cruising your car down the highway, and you let go of the steering wheel, nothing will really happen, right? Because the car is passively stable. Passive stability is a good thing. It means that if you don't do anything, it'll just keep doing what it's doing.

Correct.

Correct.

Correct.

Yeah, so the pilot could fall asleep for 10 seconds and it'll be fine.

Yeah, so the pilot could fall asleep for 10 seconds and it'll be fine.