Aircraft Technology
50 episodes · Page 2 of 3
#4076: How Passenger Jets Become Cargo Planes
The engineering behind turning aging passenger jets into cargo haulers — and why e-commerce is driving a boom.
#3974: How Pilots Land in Crazy Crosswinds
The physics, engineering, and pilot skill behind those jaw-dropping crosswind landings you've seen online.
#3973: How Autoland Guides Planes Through Zero Visibility
The engineering behind aircraft autoland systems that guide planes to the runway when pilots can't see anything.
#3624: How the Military Invented the Shipping Container
The military invented the shipping container before Amazon existed. Inside the parallel universe of defense logistics.
#3300: How Airlines Maximize Plane Utilization Daily
How airlines balance relentless pressure to fly expensive assets against non-negotiable safety requirements.
#3299: Two Hundred People Before You Board
What happens in the 72 hours before a transatlantic flight takes off? The answer involves 200 people and 5 fuel buckets.
#2988: How Aircraft Defeat Ice: Three Layers of Defense
Ice on wings can kill. Here's how aviation built three independent defenses against it.
#2985: The Hidden Architecture of the Sky
How thousands of planes navigate invisible highways without colliding — over land, ocean, and through wake turbulence.
#2702: The Surprising Secret of Jet Thrust
Where does all that fuel live, and how does a spinning fan produce enough thrust to lift a 747?
#2407: Three Landings in 90 Days: Pilot Automation Dependency
Why pilots aren't hand-flying enough, the regulatory floor that lets it happen, and what airlines are doing about it.
#2296: When Fleet Size Changes Everything
El Al’s $1.5B Boeing 787 Dreamliner deal highlights the complex logistics of fleet expansion, maintenance, and airline operations at scale.
#2236: Metal at Forty Thousand Feet
Could 1903 metallurgy have built a plane to fly at 40,000 feet? The answer reveals how materials science, not aerodynamics, was aviation's deepest ...
#1423: Why Can't We Land an Airbus in the Ocean?
Why did we trade the luxury of flying boats for concrete runways? Explore the physics, history, and future of large-scale seaports.
#1422: Controlled Collisions: The Engineering of Modern Runways
Discover the hidden engineering beneath airport runways and the physics of landing massive aircraft on solid Antarctic ice.
#1140: The G-Suit Paradox: From Fighter Jets to Commercial Cabins
Transitioning from fighter jets to airliners is a total recalibration of physics, philosophy, and psychology in the "comfort corridor."
#1016: The Immortal Airframe: Why 70-Year-Old Planes Still Fly
Explore how 70-year-old bombers and tankers stay flight-ready using digital twins, 3D printing, and cutting-edge structural engineering.
#676: The Slow Travel Movement Takes to the Skies
Could the future of green travel be a blast from the past? Explore why airships are trading speed for sustainability and luxury.
#668: The Hidden Bureaucracy of the Sky
Discover the invisible borders of the sky, from the physics of the Karman Line to the hidden fees airlines pay to cross national airspace.
#635: Airplane Mode: Technical Necessity or Outdated Ritual?
Is airplane mode a safety must or an outdated rule? Herman and Corn explore electromagnetic interference, 5G risks, and cellular congestion.
#526: Beyond the Bolt: How VHB Tape Holds the World Together
Think tape is just for paper? Discover how VHB tape keeps airplanes in the sky and electric vehicles on the road in this engineering deep dive.
#438: The Hidden Engineering of Airport Approach Lighting
Discover the hidden engineering behind airport approach lights, from the "rabbit" flashers to the towers standing in suburban backyards.
#329: Why Your Next Flight Will Be Much Bumpier
Is flying getting scarier or just better reported? Herman and Corn dive into the science of clear air turbulence and why the skies are changing.
#295: The 40,000-Foot Ceiling: Why Planes Stop Climbing
Why do planes stop at 40,000 feet? Explore the "coffin corner" and the physics keeping commercial aviation from reaching the stars.
#286: When Billionaires Feud Over In-Flight Wi-Fi
Why is in-flight Wi-Fi finally getting good? Explore the physics of Starlink, phased array antennas, and the Musk-O’Leary corporate feud.