I Know they can't.. but like when I drive by the airport sometimes I see the airplane like just sitting there in the air like waiting to land or something.. cuz I watch the plane for a while and it doesnt move.. so wouldnt that be hovering?.. like since its in the same place at least a couple mins..
2006-07-04 09:52:26 · 8 answers · asked by Brianna 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
With regard to headwind factor. Yer not entirely right. Flying into a headwind that matches airspeed is not hovering but to someone on the ground it would provide the illusion thereof
2006-07-07 08:37:15 · answer #1 · answered by helipilot212 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aircrafts cannot "hover" what we can do is slow the aircraft down to its near stall speed face it into the wind, and emmulate a "hover" manuever. However, it is because the aircraft is at a slower speed when prepping for landing ..and being that it higher than you it will provide an illusion that it is standing still. If you were ever in a city looked at a really tall building on the other side of town, tried to walk to it. but then realize half way. the building is still just not getting any closer. its the same concept. you are fixed on an object that is far away, only giving an impression that it is standing in place
2006-07-05 04:26:27 · answer #2 · answered by pilotattitude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're all wrong...even the pilots!
In theory, they CAN hover...but probably never do.
It's like this - every plane has a stall speed. If the wind heading towards the plane is 1 kt fast than the aircraft's stall speed, the aircraft will travel at NO GROUND SPEED (ie remain perfectly still). The problem, however, is this: the stall speed of, say, a Boeing 737 is probably around 140kts - how happy would you be to fly into a 140kts headwind?
So yeah they can, but no they don't!!!
This goes for any aeroplane
*** Perhaps I should of said 'appears to hover' ***
2006-07-06 12:22:17 · answer #3 · answered by puggtiracer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those big aircraft u see at the airport don't hover your right. The angle and the fact that you are moving give you the illusion that it isn't moving. Just think of the moon or sun when you drive it seems to follow you. hope that helped
2006-07-04 09:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot depends on the angle you are looking at the aircraft, if you are looking from the front it will, of course, look like it is not moving, but from the side its a different story. Planes need to keep a certain speed in order to stay aloft, below their "stall" speed they will drop like stones. In the case of the harrier, it can hover because its engine can send ths thrust downward to keep it in the air.
2006-07-04 10:01:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no man the on aircraft i have seen that hovers is a fighterjet from the United States Marine corps. YEA they have a engine that turns and shoots the thrust down propelling the aircraft up then the engine turns and it thrusts forward.
2006-07-05 18:07:07 · answer #6 · answered by Cesar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only copters and VTOL aircraft can hover;.
Sound like an optical illusion caused by lack of frame of reference.
2006-07-04 09:56:02 · answer #7 · answered by Dan in Boston 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, that plane is HUGE, and going very slow, it's just an illusion. I've seen the C-5 galaxy transports do that. FREAKY!
2006-07-04 09:57:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋