US Airways - October 2013 - (Page 11)

Did You Know? embark How does a jet News, Notes, and Inflight Insights engine work? First, we need to travel back to middle school science class. Remember Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. That’s the main principle behind a jet engine. Imagine releasing an inflated balloon; the escaping air blows out the bottom and propels the balloon in the opposite direction. That’s essentially what happens in a basic jet engine. Air is sucked into the front of the engine by a fan. This air is then compressed, sprayed with fuel, and lit with an electric spark to create a burning gas. The gas expands and then blasts out the back of the engine. As this gas shoots backward, the engine and the aircraft are thrust forward. Do older planes get to retire? ★ of winglets and vortices illustrations by nigel holmes You may have noticed that the tip of a plane’s wing doesn’t end in a point; it either curves up or has a plate on the end that extends upward and downward. These projections are called wingtip devices, or winglets. They come in different styles, but they all serve the same purpose — to reduce turbulence and save fuel. During flight, high-pressure air below the wing curls around the wingtip and meets the lowpressure air above the wing, creating a vortex-like airflow. These vortices create drag on the aircraft. The winglets break up the vortices and reduce drag. This makes for a smoother ride and also helps cut down on fuel costs. While there are several different types of wingtip devices, you’ll typically see two varieties on US Airways planes. Blended winglets (often found on Boeings) curve upward at the end of the wing. Wingtip fences (often found on Airbus aircraft) are plates that extend above and below the wingtip. US Airways’ planning departments decide if and when a plane should be retired from flying. They consider the plane’s age, operating costs, maintenance history, replacement schedule, and other factors. If it’s time for a plane to be retired, then it may be parked permanently, sold for parts, or disassembled for recycling. The process of putting a plane out to pasture varies by situation. “US Airways hasn’t had to ‘retire’ an aircraft in several years because most of the aircraft in our fleet are leased,” says David Lin, director of fleet administration. When a leased plane is past its prime, the airline will simply not renew its lease and then return the plane to its owner. “Then it’s up to the leasing company who owns the aircraft to determine if it should be retired,” Lin says. usairwaysmag.com october 2013 11 http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - October 2013

Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Top Spas at Top Resorts
Wine & Dine: Mail-Order BBQ
Wine & Dine: Hard Cider
Golf: The TOURAcademy at TPC Sawgrass
Adventure: P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
Style Spotlight: School Colors
Diversions: City Ghost Tours
Gear Up: Just for Sports Fans
Down to Business: Columbus, Ohio
Chefs Tell: Smith & Wollensky
Charlotte USA
Travel Feature: Maui
US Airways: BE PINK Campaign
Down to Business: IPNav
Going the Extra Block: Philadelphia Neighborhoods
University Spotlight: University of Dayton
Best of Health: Miami Beach Foot and Ankle Surgery
Best of Living: Eagles Nest
Great Dates
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - October 2013