Cooking on an airplane is no ordinary task; it involves overcoming unique challenges to ensure a safe and satisfying dining experience for passengers. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of in-flight cooking and explore the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into preparing meals on an airplane.

Food Preparation on the Ground

Before the plane takes off, meticulous planning and preparation occur on the ground. Meal planning and menu development take place in collaboration with culinary experts and airline caterers. Careful consideration is given to factors such as taste, nutrition, and presentation. Ingredient selection and sourcing are also vital to ensure the availability of fresh and high-quality products.

In dedicated catering facilities, meals are prepared adhering to strict safety and hygiene regulations. Chefs employ specialized cooking techniques and equipment to create delicious and visually appealing dishes. Once cooked, the meals are packaged and stored appropriately to maintain their quality and freshness.

Onboard Kitchen Facilities

The onboard kitchen, known as the galley, poses its own set of challenges. The galley is designed with limited space and equipped with compact appliances tailored for aviation use. A modern trend in the airplane galley is hydroponic systems that allow to have fresh herbs directly on board.

The safety of passengers and crew members is paramount, so the galley is designed to prevent accidents and ensure smooth operations during the flight.

In-Flight Cooking Process

When it’s time for meal service, the crew springs into action. Meal assembly and final preparation are carried out using the pre-prepared ingredients from the catering facility. Heating methods and equipment like ovens and steamers are used to warm the meals onboard.

However, cooking at high altitudes presents unique challenges. The reduced air pressure and humidity affect the cooking process, leading to adjustments in cooking times and temperatures. Chefs must adapt their techniques to achieve the desired results in this distinctive environment.

Ensuring food safety and quality is of utmost importance during in-flight cooking. Strict protocols are followed to handle and reheat food, and temperature monitoring is carried out regularly to prevent any compromise in taste or safety.

Special Dietary Requirements

Airline companies recognize the diverse dietary needs of passengers and make efforts to cater to special requirements. From vegetarian and vegan meals to gluten-free and kosher options, the galley prepares specialized meals to accommodate various dietary preferences and restrictions.

Collaboration with Cabin Crew

The successful execution of in-flight cooking relies on seamless communication and coordination between the galley and the cabin crew. The kitchen staff works closely with the cabin crew to ensure that meals are served efficiently and promptly to passengers. Furthermore, proper handling of food waste and cleaning protocols are followed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene onboard.

Future Innovations in Airplane Cooking

Advancements in technology and a growing focus on passenger experience are driving innovations in airplane cooking. Galley designs and equipment are being improved to maximize efficiency and optimize space utilization. Additionally, technology is being harnessed to enhance the meal preparation process, leading to more streamlined operations and increased culinary possibilities.

Do they cook first class meals on the plane?

Yes, first-class meals on airplanes are often cooked onboard in dedicated kitchen facilities within the galley. Airlines prioritize providing a premium dining experience to their first-class passengers, and preparing meals onboard allows for greater flexibility and customization.

In these onboard kitchens, skilled chefs work with a range of cooking equipment to prepare high-quality meals. The galley facilities in first-class cabins are typically more extensive and well-equipped compared to those in economy or business class. This allows for more elaborate cooking techniques and the use of fresh ingredients to create gourmet dishes.

While some elements of the first-class meals may be pre-prepared or partially cooked on the ground, the final assembly and finishing touches are completed onboard. This ensures that the meals are served at their peak freshness and flavor, enhancing the overall dining experience for first-class passengers.

The ability to cook meals onboard also offers the advantage of adapting to passenger preferences and dietary requirements more efficiently. Chefs can customize dishes or make modifications based on individual requests or special dietary needs.

Overall, cooking first-class meals onboard allows airlines to provide an elevated culinary experience that aligns with the luxury and exclusivity associated with premium cabin travel.

Conclusion

Cooking on an airplane is a complex and intricate process that requires careful planning, skillful execution, and the ability to adapt to unique circumstances. From the ground to the galley, a dedicated team of professionals ensures that passengers can enjoy satisfying meals during their flight. So, the next time you savor a meal on an airplane, appreciate the culinary feats achieved at high altitudes. Bon appétit!

The post How Do They Cook on an Airplane? appeared first on Aero-Geek.

Radar or Radio Detection and Ranging is a system designed to detect other aircraft, ships, or other objects. This system can also decipher the speed and direction these objects are traveling. The method of measuring this information is done through pulses of high-frequency electromagnetic waves. The pulse is sent out into the head of the ship, aircraft, or other object and when detected, bounces off the object and reflects to the antenna of the radar for processing. 

History of Plane Radar 

While today radar is considered a standard piece of equipment in many industries, it was regarded as a top-secret project before the Second World War. A German scientist, Heinrich Hertz was the first to discover this system in the 19th Century, when he learned radio waves reflected off metallic objects. So, the beginning of radar is contributed to the radio.  

Radar did not encounter a practical use until the early 20th Century when Christian Hülsmeyer created a simple system to detect ships. He used the radar system to locate ships out in the fog. It was more than two decades later that the advancements in these systems gained attention. The primary incentive for this attention was the war. 

How the War Created Incentive for Radar Technology 

Aviation saw a lot of advancements during the First World War. With the need to measure and track air movements as a defense, many European Nations experimented by using sound mirrors to detect the sound of engines at longer distances. This method was not the most reliable way of making detections. 

When sound mirrors proved to be less than desirable and reliable, the British Government began researching radio and what was known as ‘death rays.’ From this point, radar became the chosen path, and when the Second World War began, a network of receiver stations was installed up the coast of England. 

The feedback from these early radar stations was much different from the radar screens we see today. A radar controller would observe pulses on a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) scope as echoes or reflections were seen. These pulses indicated there was an object out there. The transmissions began at ‘0’ on a scale and would be measured along a ruler to measure how far away the object was in miles. 

By June of 1940 radar moved into a Plan Position Indicator (PPI) view. With this system, the bearing of an approaching aircraft was able to be detected. This data was possible when another transmitter which was rotating 360 degrees transmitted radio waves in a thin, vertical transmission of radio waves instead of horizontally. Not only did this system allow us to learn how far away the aircraft was, but also at what speed it was travelling. The result was the aircraft squadrons could immediately be deployed towards the incoming enemy planes. 

The original term for this type of radar was RDF (Radio Detection Finding.) In 1940, the United States Navy coined the term we use today-Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging.) 

After War Advancements in Radar 

Through the 1940s and ’50s, radar continued to be developed. From these developments came the: 

• Monopulse Radar – This radar increased tracking accuracy. 
• Pulse-Doppler Radar– This radar system was able to detect moving objects through varying weather conditions or clutter created by animals. 
• Phased-Array Radar- This radar makes it possible to track multiple objects. 

In the late 1940s with aircraft beginning to carry nuclear weapons there came a need for radar to be able to send out early warnings. The Cold War created a need for technology in both the United States and the Soviet Union to develop massive networks of radar across the western coast of Canada to provide these early warnings.  

How Does Radar Work 

Using ‘line of sight’, radar works through transmissions sent off in straight lines. The transmission waves hit planes, or other objects in their paths and return an echo. If there are terrains in the lines, they can cause ‘radar shadows’ and block out sections of the radar’s scope. These shadows occur because the ground absorbs the transmissions instead of reflecting them so an echo can be received by the receiver. 

In the 1950s, it was learned the radio waves could bounce off the ionosphere and still provide transmissions to be received by the receivers. This discovery made it possible for radar to reach past the limits different terrain caused. 

In the 1970s more technology was used to increase how much wattage radar could achieve. It made it possible for radar transmissions to reach a much higher intensity. This discovery made it possible for echoes to be detected from higher altitudes and made it possible to detect missile launches over a thousand miles away. 

Today, with the use of satellites, radar systems have advanced even further. Planes can now be fitted with their own transmitters. This system creates a means of receiving data directly from the plane. The plane’s radar transmits data about its location right from a transponder placed inside the aviation electronics (avionics). 

In Conclusion 

Radar today improves aviation safety. This system also increases the operational efficiency of the whole air transport industry. Radar can also detect storms along the flight path an airplane will fly to provide early warnings and allow for safety measures to be implemented. The truth behind radar is that it makes our skies safe. 

The post The History of Radar appeared first on Aero-Geek.

The discovery of hydrogen in the 17th century led to the development of the first hydrogen balloon. In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers, including Jacques-Étienne and Joseph-Michel, flew the first unmanned hot air balloon over Annonay, France. The same year, they flew a piloted, tethered hot air balloon with Giroud de Villette, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier, and Jean-Baptiste Réveillon onboard. Later, they launched their first untethered hot air balloon flight, which flew nine kilometers in about 25 minutes. The hot air balloon became exceptionally popular during the late 18th century, which led to the discovery of the relationship between altitude and atmosphere. However, the main downside of hot air balloons was a lack of maneuverability. 

The invention of airships came to solve the issue with hot air balloons. Unlike hot air balloons, airships used hydrogen or helium gas to lift and were the first ones to carry passengers over long distances. Alberto Santos-Dumont was the first person to fly an untethered airship designed with an internal combustion engine. In 1901, Santos-Dumont launched his airship known as “Number 6” over Paris in less than thirty minutes. In 1899, Ferdinand von Zeppelin started building the first Zeppelin airship, which featured two Daimler engines. In 1902, Leonardo Torres Quevedo launched his version of The Zeppelin, which dealt with the balancing problems of the first Zeppelin. However, the fatal crash at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937 marked the end of the airship era. 

Heavier-Than-Air Aircraft 

Despite the numerous advancements of lighter-than-air aircraft, their existence was short-lived and overshadowed by the invention of the heavier-than-air airplane. In 1869, Samuel Pierpont Langley was the first to launch an unmanned heavier-than-air aircraft on a sustained flight successfully. Langley was later funded by the US government to create a crewed version of his heavier-than-air aircraft for purposes of spying on the enemy. However, his design was not successful. 

The Wright Brothers in the History of Aviation 

Between 1900 and 1902, the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright from Dayton, Ohio, designed and tested numerous glider and kite models. They built a wind tunnel and then created various devices to measure the drag and lift on more than two hundred wing designs. Finally, their third glider was a success as it outdid its predecessors, which heavily contributed to the aeronautical engineering field. 

The Wright brothers also worked together to solve the current issue of controlled, powered flight. They solved the control problem by creating wing warping for yaw control, roll control, and a steerable rudder. On December 17th, 1903, the two brothers successfully built and launched the first crewed heavier-than-air flight. This is also the universally recognized date that launched modern aviation. On that day, they made a total of four flights in their simple aircraft, with the longest one piloted by Wilbur, covering 852 feet in 49 seconds.  

In 1906, Alberto Santos-Dumont set the world record by flying his aircraft, “14-bis,” 220 meters (about twice the length of a football field) in 21.5 seconds over Paris. He also advanced the design by incorporating moveable parts to the wings to gain lateral stability. Later, in 1908, he started working with Clement-Bayard company to build the first mass-produced aircraft, the Demoiselle No. 19. 

How Aviation Evolved from Military Applications to Civilian 

Aircraft became militarized as soon as it was invented. Italy was the first country to employ aircraft for military operations. They used airships and monoplanes to bomb, shell, and transportation during the Turkish-Italian War in Libya. 

In 1914, Roland Garros attached a machine gun to his aircraft, making him the first “ace.” And the following year, Kurt Wintgens secured his first aerial victory using a fighter plane designed with a machine gun. 

Aircraft were first used in active combat on a large scale in World War I. This played a decisive role in the First World War. France became the leading aircraft manufacturer during the war, producing over 68,000 airplanes between 1914 and 1918. During World War II, nearly all nations increased their production and development of aircraft and flight-based systems. The military used fighter bombers, strategic bombers, dive bombers, and ground-attack aircraft. 

The invention of radar technology led to more precise, coordinated, and controlled deployment. In 1942, Arado Ar 234, the first jet-powered bomber, was launched. The Second World War also led to the rapid development of helicopters. By the end of the Second World War, there were airports or landing strips in many cities and towns. During this period, civil aviation experienced tremendous growth because military aircraft were repurposed as personal or airliner planes. 

Revolutionary aircraft designs, for instance, the Douglas DC-3, a reliable all-metal passenger airplane with rubberized seats to reduce vibrations and noise-deadening plastic insulation, helped make flying more comfortable and accessible for new travelers. To standardize the safety, consistency, and efficiency of civil flights, the Convention on International Civil Aviation was established in 1944. Standardization of civil flights led to safer, more affordable airliners run by major carriers.  

Modern Aviation 

Digital adoption and technology techniques in the modern era have seen a massive advancement in the aviation industry. The release of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing software in the 1970s facilitated the development of enhanced aircraft designs. Newer technologies like computer simulations have aided in producing lighter yet more robust materials for building airplanes. 

Modern aircraft also come equipped with digital systems, eliminating most analog and mechanical instruments. During the 1980s, cathode-ray displays in the cockpit were replaced with more advanced computer-based electronic displays. A notable example was the Boeing 767’s glass cockpit in 1981. Modern displays, when integrated into automatic pilots, make cockpit resource management a crucial aspect of flight safety.  

Also, the introduction of composite materials like the one used for building Boeing 787 Dreamliner has significantly cut down the weight of aircraft, leading to improved fuel efficiency. Advanced composite has also led to the development sweeping wing tips that reduce component weight and improves aerodynamics of an aircraft. 

Conclusion 

The history of aviation is a story filled with the success, failure, and perseverance of many men and women. Aviation history month of November is a wonderful time to celebrate the people behind modern-day aviation that powers a global economy and inspires many people to become aviators. 

Since 1928, Spartan College has been training aviation professionals and pioneers; we are an aviation college that has a long history of flying high and standing tall. Spartan has trained over 100,000+ aviation innovators from all 50 United States and over 40 countries. Through our innovative graduates, Spartan has impacted generations for 93 years, establishing itself as an industry-leader in aviation and technology-related arenas. It is time your life reflected your daydreams. Whether you are just starting – or starting over – Spartan programs inspire you to dream big and work hard to achieve your goals in aviation.  

The post How Aviation Got Started appeared first on Aero-Geek.

1783 – First balloon flight

In the year 1783, the first flight was invented by the French Montgolfier brothers and took place with a hot air balloon. This was called the “Montgolfière“.

1891 – Glide through the sky

Otto Lilienthal, a German pioneer of aviation, was the first person to glide through the sky. This started to look more like the flying that we know today.

1903 – First Airplane: Wright Flyer

The Wright brothers – Orville and Wilbur – were American inventors and pioneers of aviation. Their goal was to create a motorized aircraft. Their Wright-Flyer was, therefore, the first motorized aircraft to make a controlled flight on December 17, 1903. The aircraft weighed only 605 lbs (without pilot) and the first flight took about 12 seconds for a total distance of 120 feet.

1906 – Alberto Santos-Dumont

The Brazilian, Alberto Santos-Dumont, was the first person to fly a controlled and motorized flight over Europe three years later.

1909 – Across the English Channel

Frenchman Louis Blériot was the first to fly across the English Channel. His flight from Calais to Dover took about 37 minutes and with a distance of 31 miles.

1910 – First female pilot

In 1910, French aviation pioneer Raymonde de Laroche became the first female pilot in the world to receive her flying license.

1927 – Across the Atlantic Ocean

American pilot Charles Lindbergh was the first pilot to fly non-stop (and solo!) across the Atlantic Ocean. The flight was New York to Paris and upon arrival in Paris he was met by many people cheering him against his expectations. That’s how he became famous instantly.

1929 – First flight over the North Pole

On May 9, 1929, Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett flew over the North Pole. The journey lasted about 15 hours and the men were received as heroes back in the United States.

1970 – Boeing 747

January 21, 1970. On this day the first flight of the Boeing 747 took place. Until 2005 (when the Airbus A380 was built), this was the largest passenger aircraft in the world.

1976 – First commercial flight of the Concorde

In 1976, the Concorde made its first commercial flight. The Concorde flew twice as fast as the speed of sound (1,354 mph at cruise altitude), twice as fast as a normal airliner.

2003 – Concorde’s last flight

The Concorde made its last flight in 2003. Only 20 aircraft of the Concorde have ever been built. The reason for the discontinuation of Concorde’s flights was the ever-increasing maintenance costs.

2003 – Centenary of the Wright brothers

The Wright brothers have made so much history that their centennial anniversary has not passed unnoticed in the United States. In 1903 they wrote a lot of history with their Wright-Flyer.

2007 – Largest passanger aircraft

The Airbus A380 is now the world’s largest passenger airliner in the world. The plane has two floors and can accommodate up to 853 passengers!

2019 – First electric flight

In the Canadian city of Richmond, the airline Harbor Air made a complete electrically powered flight at the end of 2019. A seaplane with room for six people made a three-minute flight. This was in the harbor of Richmond, making it the firstcommercial aircraftever to run on electricity.

The post Important Events in the History of Aviation appeared first on Aero-Geek.