World Explained · Transport and engineering
Why bird strikes can be so dangerous for a jet engine
A bird strike is not just a dent in an aircraft. If a bird is ingested by a jet engine, fast-moving fan blades and the engine core can be affected.
How the moving world works
Cars, Planes & Machines
Cars, aircraft, transport systems and engineering explained through the mechanisms, trade-offs and stories that make them remarkable.
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Explore Machines
World Explained · Aviation and design
The A380 only makes sense when an airline can fill a very large promise
The four-engine superjumbo is costly to operate when demand is thin, but one full A380 can move a huge crowd through a scarce airport slot and support a premium long-haul product.
World Explained · Cars, Planes & Machines
How the Gordie Howe bridge works beyond its record span
The new Windsor-Detroit crossing is more than an 853-metre cable-stayed span. Its ports, toll lanes and highway links form the larger machine.
World Explained · Aviation
Why RAF Typhoons intercepted a Qatar Airways flight
A hoax threat triggered the RAF response. Here is what happened, why fighter jets were sent and what an interception does and does not mean.
Australian Curiosity · Cars and transport
Is the 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero confirmed for Australia? What we know
Mitsubishi has confirmed the Pajero's global return, but an Australian release date, price and specification have not been announced. Here is what is official.
World Explained · Aviation engineering
Why airplane windows have a tiny hole that does not lead outside
The small opening near the bottom of many passenger windows is deliberate. It helps a layered window manage pressure without opening the cabin to the sky.
Australian Curiosity · Cars and transport
Has Fiat left Australia? What the 500e import pause actually means
Fiat has stopped ordering more 500e and Abarth 500e electric cars for Australia, but that is not the same as abandoning every model or existing owner.
World Explained · Aviation engineering
How the A350-1000ULR can stay airborne for up to 22 hours
Extra fuel is only part of the answer. The Project Sunrise aircraft combines a larger tank, higher take-off weight, efficient engines and a low-density cabin.
Australian Curiosity · Aviation
What the Project Sunrise wellbeing zone is actually for
The dedicated cabin area is designed for movement, stretching and hydration. It is a passenger feature, not a proven cure for jet lag or every health risk.
Australian Curiosity · Aviation
What Project Sunrise is and when the flights are expected to begin
Qantas plans non-stop Sydney to London service from October 2027. Here is the verified path from certification flights to delivery and passengers.
Australian Curiosity · Aviation
Will Sydney to London become the world's longest passenger flight?
Airbus calls Project Sunrise the world's longest commercial flight. The comparison depends on non-stop distance, scheduled duration and what is actually operating.
World Explained · Aviation engineering
Why Airbus put more than 1,000 sensors on the Project Sunrise aircraft
The sensors turn a future passenger jet into a certification laboratory, measuring its new fuel system and cabin without permanently altering the aircraft.
Australian Curiosity · Aviation
Why the first Project Sunrise delivery now points to 2027
The test aircraft flew in June 2026, but Airbus says the first aircraft delivered to Qantas is planned for April 2027. The dates describe different jobs.
Australian Curiosity · Aviation
Project Sunrise seating plan: all 238 Qantas A350 seats
The Project Sunrise seating plan has 238 Qantas A350 seats across four cabins. See every class count, layout and the 42 Economy Plus seats.
World Explained · Aviation engineering
Why Project Sunrise needs a 20,000-litre rear fuel tank
The extra tank supplies the range Sydney to London demands, but its location also creates fuel-transfer, structural and certification work.
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