Articles written by Dave Jackson - Page 2

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About me - Dave Jackson

About me? Well I'm enjoying my third career now and haven't even died of old age yet! Being a famous writer was an interesting goal decades ago but I developed a terrible addiction to eating food and living in a warm building so I ended up working for a living

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Home & Garden > Home Interior How to paint ceilings without hurting your neck: 2 of 6
I've painted hundreds of ceilings during my career, none of them being joyful experiences. I used to say there would be a chiropractor surcharge to repair my sore neck, only partly jokingly. Ceiling painting frequently causes serious neck pain for a couple of reasons. Quite a bit of exertion is required and there's no way out... More..
Hobbies & Games > Model Building & Radio Control Tips on building Revell plastic airplane models: 1 of 2
Can you remember the very first plastic model kit you built? Mine, a Revell '57 Chevy, began a lifelong hobby that I will never grow out of. Back then, Revell made some of the highest quality kits available. Judging by the 1/48 scale F-15 I purchased today they have only gotten better. As with any hobby, spend some time (and ... More..
Sciences > Physics The physics of airplane flight: 1 of 2
Did you know Boeing wasn't one hundred percent sure the 747 could fly until it actually did? It was faith in physics that reassured the engineers (and bankers) that such a massive undertaking was worth the risk. Physics describes four basic elements involved with flying an airplane. Flight involves a constant tug of war betwe... More..
Travel > Air Travel & Airlines Common causes of aircraft wing failure: 1 of 2
The majority of procedures and rules in aviation are written in blood. We design and build the safest aircraft possible, given the best available knowledge and skill. Inevitably, an unforeseen circumstance will cause a catastrophic wing failure. Every failure and accident must be learned from to prevent a repeated incident. A... More..
Travel > Air Travel & Airlines The difference between propeller and jet aircrafts: 1 of 2
Consider a jet and a propeller driven airplane side by side on the tarmac. The engines will of course look very different. The jets wings will be swept back much farther and it will look sleeker and faster. But most key differences will not be apparent.Airplanes driven by propellers are ideal for applications where efficiency... More..
Sciences > Physical Science (Other) Aircraft spoilers, airbrakes and their function: 1 of 2
Pilots of the first generations of aircraft had a lot of things to worry about. The use of spoilers and air brakes were not yet a concern. Improvements in engine performance enabled faster airspeeds and larger, heavier aircraft. Each incremental improvement caused the minimum landing speeds to creep higher and higher. Aeronau... More..
Sciences > Physical Science (Other) How airplanes measure speed and altitude: 1 of 2
Speed and altitude are two of the most important things a pilot needs to know during a flight. Failure of these instruments can lead to a "controlled flight into terrain", hypoxia from excessive altitude, a stall or a dangerous over-speed. All of these situations can lead to a very bad outcome.The airspeed indicator and altim... More..
Travel > Air Travel & Airlines Why control duplication in airplanes is helpful: 1 of 2
Wouldn't it be awkward to have dual controls in your car? But then, wouldn't it be handy for training a new driver? Or to share the driving with a passenger? Aircraft with dual controls enable pilot training and shared control with a second pilot.Most aircraft are fitted with dual controls. Even two seat fighters have flight ... More..
Autos > Engine Repair How to replace a serpentine belt: 1 of 1
Do you remember the screams of protest when serpentine belts were dumped on us by the automobile industry? One broken belt and everything's dead? They are an absolute nightmare to replace? They cost a fortune? Now we wonder why they weren't invented sooner. The old "fan" belts were a pain to replace and tension. Slippage from... More..
Travel > Air Travel & Airlines Flight control surfaces and how they work: 1 of 1
When the Wright brothers first took to the air they had only two methods to control their aircraft. In place of a rudder and ailerons they used "wing warping" much the same as a bird does. In place of an elevator they shifted their body weight fore and aft. Aviation was a very dangerous game during the development of control ... More..