8 Things We’ve Always Wondered About Airplanes But Not Known Who To Ask

7. Why do some planes have their wings bent upwards?

What’s the point of having your wings bent upwards? Is it trying to stand out among others? All planes look the same anyway. Is it trying to act cool? Does it have swag?

It’s not about looking cool, although the Concorde did look pretty slick. The wings are bent upwards to reduce drag, especially during take-off, landing, and turbulence. Reduction in drag makes the aircraft more fuel efficient. To put it simply, a bent wing (known as a winglet) makes the plane more aerodynamic.

8. Why is air distance measured in nautical miles instead of kilometres?

Aren’t nautical miles associated with the ocean? Then why do airplanes measure in the same unit? Why can’t they measure in kilometres or miles?

This one is a little obvious but interesting to know nonetheless. Flying is more or less similar to sailing in the ocean, there are no fixed routes. Therefore, you make your way around based on the latitude and the longitude. One nautical mile is one minute of the latitude, making calculating long distances simpler.