A new aircraft has been developed that can go half way round the world on one tank of fuel. There is only one airbase , on the equator, that can handle the aircraft. It can be refuelled in flight only by the same type of aircraft. The airforce wants to try a nonstop round the world flight to break a record. How many supporting aircraft are needed to keep the first machine in the air for the attempt? Explain in detail how it all works. There is a genuine answer.
2006-10-10 02:55:21 · 5 answers · asked by john r 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
OK, got it now, solution:
Plane A,B,C start from bsae and fly 1/8 of the circle, using 1/4 of the fuel. Plane C refuels plane A and B to full and still has 1/4 of the tank to return to base. Plane A and B go 1/8 of the way again, now they are on the 1/4 point and both have 3/4 tank. Plane B refuels plane A to full and still has 1/2 tank to return to base. Plane A goes now half the way around the globe - from point 1/4 to 3/4 of the way. During that time plane B and C refuel at the base and meet plane A from the opposite direction in the same way as in the beginning.
2006-10-10 03:32:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Three planes are required.
Aircraft A takes off fully fueled, going east, this will be the plane that will complete the round trip.
Aircraft B and C are fully fueled and take off at the same time as A going the opposite direction.
Once C gets to half a tank, it fills B from half to full and turns around.
This puts A 1/4 of the way around the world going east at half tank and B going west with a full tank. Once B and A meet at halfway, A has very little fuel and B has enough to turn around and refuel A completely.
A completes the flight going east. If you'd like to save aircraft B you'll need C to refuel and refill B to get all the way back. But only 3 are required to get A all the way there.
2006-10-10 10:11:51 · answer #2 · answered by a.bohner 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I say four and here is why, 4 of the same type leave, 1/4 of the way there two of the plains fill up the other two. Since they all only used half their fuel then 1 plane should be able to fill up 2. The two conitinue and the other two go back to the one base. When they reach 3/4 the way, the two remainding plains refuel each other and continue all the way to the base. So not one but two plains have went all the way around the world. This way no plain gets stranded in between.
2006-10-10 10:11:58 · answer #3 · answered by drkblueangel14 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1? It flies half way round, refuels and then flies the other half
2006-10-10 10:04:44 · answer #4 · answered by markhatter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
one?
2006-10-10 09:59:36 · answer #5 · answered by rod d 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋