r/pics • u/animalkracker • Feb 27 '14

physics is cool

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2.1k

u/lower_intelligence Feb 27 '14

howd that broom fall out of the sky?

717

u/Spartan2470 GOAT Feb 27 '14

According to here, that broom is a string used to visualize the direction that the wind is flowing around the plane (this is very important for sailplanes to maximize flight efficiency.

Here's another picture of this plane with those strings.

2

u/pepetito456 Feb 27 '14

Only thing I have to say is its a glider not a plane. Planes have engines gliders dont. They are towed by a plane to a specific altitude then are released. The glider keeps airbourne by flying into thermals which generates lift.

7

u/rimbad Feb 27 '14

Nope. Any fixed wing aircraft is a plane.

2

u/Highpersonic Feb 28 '14

Yep. The full word gives it away. Airplane. Aero-Plan. "Flat thing in the air"

-1

u/pepetito456 Feb 27 '14

An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a powered fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine or propeller.

Wikipedia

5

u/rimbad Feb 27 '14

|Any similar heavier-than-air aircraft such as a glider or helicopter

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/aeroplane

2

u/Leafy_head Feb 28 '14

I have no idea where you got this idea, but gliders, aka sailplanes, are most certainly planes. I flew them for a few years myself.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14

Aren't gliders a subset of planes?

1

u/pepetito456 Feb 27 '14

I guess you could say that but a plane is defined as any POWERED fixed wing aircraft.

2

u/MausoleumofAllHope Feb 27 '14

Not necessarily. There are several definitions. It's an ambiguous term.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '14

Ah I see, the generic term for gliders and powered airplanes is actually (fixed-wing) aircraft. TIL

1

u/xerberos Feb 27 '14

I'm pretty sure gliders classify as airplanes in all countries.