What are the aircraft in the sky that look like skywriters but don't write anything?
Q. As I drive east on the highway in Oklahoma I notice aircraft that fly vertically. And I mean Vertically. Straight up. They also go east to west. West to east. Every direction. They look as though they are skywriters but do nothing. A long stream of smoke follows this little dot (aircraft). What in the world is that? Also, there might be 5 or 6 at a time (in the sky) flying in different directions. By the way, I know they are aircraft - It seems odd to see them flying in the manner that they fly and with so many in the sky at one time. I used to date a pilot and I also worked at a aircraft maintenance facility. It just looks so odd driving down the highway. I just wonder what purpose they serve. Thanks to everybody who have… [cont.]
Asked by suprsalzladee - Tue May 2 22:25:58 2006 - - 12 Answers - 0 Comments

A. It sounds like you are talking about a jet. It could be an airliner, or a military jet. At high altitudes, the exhaust from the engine forms a contrail, the white lines you are seeing in the sky.
Answered by flyer82 - Wed May 3 17:34:35 2006

Are there records of Collateral damage from Anti-Aircraft Fire during the Blitz?
Q. We all know that what goes up must come down, so what about anti-aircraft shells and shrapnel that didn't hit enemy aircraft, not to mention enemy aircraft, that fell on London? Has there been any studies of this damage versus actual bombing?Did fighter command intentially avoid attacking bombers over populated areas?
Asked by foxspearman - Sat Jan 23 12:05:48 2010 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I have never seen any records of collateral damage during the blitz. However, the British government knew that it existed, and there was plenty of anecdotal evidence of such collateral damage. Did the British government try to avoid it? Not really. After all, they were trying to shoot down enemy planes. When an enemy plane hits the ground, it causes just as much (perhaps more) damage than a bomb. The general view was that the long-term benefits (killing enemy pilots and destroying enemy planes) outweighed the cost of the collateral damage. A meaningful study of the accuracy of this conclusion would be virtually impossible. Fighter command tried to attack enemy bombers as far away from populated areas as feasible -- usually over the… [cont.]
Answered by Sage - Sat Jan 23 12:58:36 2010

Does a silent aircraft have less difficulty breaking the sound barrier?
Q. If the aircraft engines are incredibly quiet, the build up of sound shock waves would be less intense, then breaking through it would be easier, isn't it?
Asked by Michael C - Mon Dec 10 01:16:01 2007 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. the amount of sound the engines make is not important for breaking the sound barrier. What you want is the plane to be extremely aerodinamic and the amount of thrust that your engines can put out.
Answered by treisigbob - Mon Dec 10 01:25:55 2007