10 Quirks Of Airbus & Boeing Jets Explained

One more reason for the A380 having only two thrust reversers: The outer engines can be beyond the runway edge. So dirt and debris could get airborne and be digested by the engines,.

It’s important to say though that the black mask on Airbus aircraft only has an effect on the A350, on the A320 family and the A330 it’s aesthetic

The eye brow windows were used for Sextant navigation long before GPS on night flights. My Dad did so when flying the 737-200 in the Arctic.

Putting toilets in the cargo hold of the A340 came with some special measures. From the article on this subject by Simple Flying: During the flight, Lufthansa would station a flight attendant in the galley next to the bathrooms to ensure that passengers were taken care of and safely secure in the event of an emergency. The downstairs space has a maximum limit of ten passengers due to having only ten oxygen masks.

A story I got from a friend of mine about the A380 thrust reverser. When the aircraft first came out a pilot wrote up the #2 thrust reverser for not stowing after deployment. Due to time and parts restraints, the mechanic MEL'd or deferred the repair. He followed the procedures and locked the reverser out. It was later found out that the pilot had written it up as the #2 because it was on the #2 engine, however that is the #1 thrust reverser. The mechanic had locked out the good reverser and left the bad one operational because it only has 2 reversers and 4 engines confusing which one is which. I believe everyone refers to them and L/H and R/H now.

Speaking of quirky planes, @5:25 is a Nolinor Aviation 737-200 with a gravel kit.

I already knew what the barking noise (to me it sounds more like a big hand saw going through a wooden board) is but I still hope to hear one day exactly WHY the PTU produces that sound.

The cargo deck toilets on the A340 are the best thing since sliced bread. So spacious and no more lurking in the aisle when waiting for a free cabin.

I love our Air Canada windscreen masks. I think it makes the Air Canada fleet look more harmonious between Airbus and Boeing.

From the “way back” machine is the ability to power back on rear engined aircraft. Got to experience it once in a 727. Very cool!

Yup, I've seen all of those except the A330F landing gear mod. Also, mention the secret crew rest area above the rear cabin of the 777.

The barking dog 🐕 noise was hilarious 😃

The favorite one got to be the beautifully curved wings of the 787, but the Airbus "sunglasses" look pretty cool as well.

wasn't one reason for the absence of reverse thrust on the outer A380engines, that they are so far out that there ist a high risk that grass and debry from the runywayedges gets blown up?

My favorite quirk is the black mask on the new airbus models it make the plane more elegant

I was surprised that you didn't mention how the 737 Max moved the engines forward and higher to accommodate their size, in addition to the flattened housing. This design change is one of the factors that led to the need for MCAS. I believe the other reason for no reversers on the outer engines of the A380 is that with the size of the wings, the outer engines come close to overhanging the edges of the runway. Using reversers on the outer engines would increase the risk of FOD. I thought that this was actually the main reason why they didn't put reversers on the outer engines, and the weight saving was a bonus. A couple of quirks - the Boeing 717 still has the capability for a tail door like the DC9, but tail doors were phased out after a highjacker used one to escape the aircraft in flight (come on, seriously, is the risk so high?). The most shocking quirk for me was the clamshell reversers on the old 737 engines. I was sitting with a view of the rear of the engine as we approached Penang, getting lower and lower until I thought we'd land on the water, then the runway appeared and the next thing I saw was what seemed like the back of the engine falling off! Then again - wouldn't the classic quirk be the droop-snoot on Concorde?

The "mask" looks really cool on the new Airbus planes

The B757 had a PTU as well. We usually shut down the #2 engine for taxi in but if we were going to a gate where we would deplane with the 2L door (just ahead of the left wing) we'd shut down the left engine since the jetway would be too close to the engine before it was shutdown. The left engine hydraulics powered the nosewheel steering and the PTU would automatically activate. It didn't sound like a barking dog, but it did sound awful.

I like the gear tilt present on Embraer E2 jets, and I also like how the airbus mask looks

Note that for keeping the same typerating the maker cannot change more than a few % of the cockpit between generations (allowing pilots from older gens to learn new gens stuff without completely retrain on the new planes), the eyebrows windows on the 737 are still there inside the newer versions but are simply blocked outside (the outside skin goes over it, but from the inside of the cockpit you still see the frame that once housed the windows on older gens 737). You can see them at 1:45 in the video