› added 6 years ago

82

TIL that airplanes will perform a "fuel dump" if they need to land earlier than expected. This is because airplanes can take off with more weight than they can land with, and the fuel makes of 80% of the aircraft's weight at takeoff.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

DQXMe TIL: "The Flintstones" were originally "The Flagstones" in their 1960 pilot film. The name was changed because the family in the "Hi & Lois" comic strip was also named Flagstone.
lgX1 TIL: The airplane crash in Breaking Bad (ABQ) was inspired by a crash from 1986, the real controller’s name was Walter White
oBJBY TIL Italians eat so much bread and pasta that the government will give Celiacs (gluten intolerant) a stipend of up to €140 to spend on Gluten free products.
ZpMmB TIL of Army Spc. Alyssa Peterson who died after shortly after refusing to participate in torture of prisoners of war. Her death was ruled a suicide.
loV5K TIL that orchids are named for the Greek órkhis, literally meaning "testicle." The name is for the shape of the root. NSFW