The world's highest and fastest flying airplane is the North American X-15, which was
designed in 1954 and first flown in 1959. The plane reached a peak altitude of 354,200 feet (64 miles, 108 kms) at a speed of 4,534 mph (7,295 kph).
The first man, who flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean, from New York (US) to Paris (France), was Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-1974).
The first woman, who flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland, Canada, to Ireland, was Amelia Earhart (1897-1937).
The first person who flew solo around the world in a
balloon is Steve Fossett. He departed western Austria on 6/18/2002 and returned on 7/4/200, exactly 13 days, 23 hours, 16 minutes, and 13 seconds later.
Delta Air Linesis the world's largest airline in terms of passenger traffic and fleet size.
It carried 161,049,000 passengers domestically and internationally to and from 357 airports around the world in 2009.
In 2009 the US domestic carriers: Aloha, ATA, Skybus, Eos, Silverjet, Maxjet, and Zoom were out of business. Midwest, Mesa Air, and Sun Country are on death watch.
The airlines that aren't bankrupt have shrunk themselves and tried to raise fares.
Boeing built 1,418 Boeing 747 aircrafts.
The cost for a 747-100 one is $24 million (1967); 747-200: $39 million (1976); 747-300: $83 million (1982); 747-400: $228–260 million (2007); and 747-8: $285.5-300 million (2007).
The black box carried on an airplane is actually painted bright orange to make it more visible in an aircraft's wreckage.
It is a tough stainless metal-and-plastic case containing two recorders, and is installed in the rear of the aircraft. The black box records information about airspeed, direction,
altitude, accelerations, engine thrust, rudder, and spoiler positions from sensors that are located around the aircraft.
AirTran passengers are permitted one carry-on bag and one personal item. The first checked bag costs $15; a second is $25, a third $50.
Alaska Airlines
charges each passenger $15 for the first bag and $25 for a second bag for
bags checked at the airport for travel within the Continental U.S. or between
the Continental U.S. and Alaska. The third bag incurs a $50 fee.
American Airlines charges each passenger $25 for the first bag and $35 for a
second bag for bags checked at the airport for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It charges $100 per piece for the 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags and $200 per piece
for the 6th checked bag and any additional pieces.
Continental Airlines charges each passenger $25 for the first bag and $35 for a
second bag for bags checked at the airport for travel within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Online payments are discounted $2-$3.
Delta Airlines charges each passenger $25 for the first bag and $35 for a
second bag for bags checked at the airport for travel within the U.S. Online payments are discounted $2-$3.
Hawaiian Airlines charges each passenger $25 for the first bag and $35 for a
second bag for bags checked at the airport for travel within the Continental U.S. or between the Continental U.S. and Hawaii. Online payments are discounted $2-$3.
JetBlue passengers are allowed to carry one bag (without charge). The second checked bag requires a $30 fee. The third bag incurs a $50 fee.
Southwest Airlines allows two free checked bags per customer. The 3rd through 9th bags will incur a charge of $50 per piece
Spirit Airlines charges each passenger $25 ($19 online) for the first bag and $25 for a
second bag if space is available for travel within the U.S. Spirit does not guarantee it has space for the second checked bag.
United Airlines charges each passenger $25 for the first bag and $35 for the
second bag for bags checked at the airport for travel within the U.S. Oversize bags (beyond 50 lbs) incur a fee of $175, and overweight bags are assessed $125.
