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While it's nice to imagine that airlines are hoping you'll get in some restful sleep, that's not the only reason why cabin lights are dimmed. The real reason why cabin crews dim the lights aboard a plane is to help passengers' eyes adjust to the dark, an essential component in helping them survive should there be a sudden nighttime evacuation.

That's 2,100 times the amount of fuel held in the gas tank of a Dodge Ram pickup truck. However, not all of that fuel is being used during a single flight—in fact, the plane only uses an average of five gallons of fuel per mile, meaning a 3,450-mile trip from New York to Lo

If you're thinking of cozying up under one of those airline-provided blankets, think again. According to one report published in the Wall Street Journal, some airlines clean their blankets as infrequently as once eve

When a plane passes through clouds, the static created can actually spur the development of lightning. Fortunately, even if your plane is struck, you're likely pretty safe. There hasn't been a lightning-related plane crash in the United States since 1967, and increased safety measures h

You might be surprised to discover that you're actually only seven percent of the distance it would take for you to get into space when you're on a plane. Planes can fly much higher than their average altitude of 3

According to crash data compiled by Time, the fatality rate for seats in the rear third of a plane during a crash was 32 percent. The middle of the plane was found to be the least safe, with a 39 percent fatality rate, while the front was marginally safer with a 38 percent fatality rate

The Antonov An-225 had an impressive maximum takeoff weight of 598 tons. In comparison, the most weight the Boeing 747-8F can take off with maxes out at around 493 tons. Sadly, the aircraft was destroyed during t

According to a report from Boeing, 13 percent of fatal accidents occur during a flight's takeoff and initial climb, or the first three minutes of a flight. However, the descent and landing, or the final eight minutes of the flight, are far deadlier, accounting for 48 percent of all fa

While you may only see the occasional plane pass by overhead, that doesn't mean the sky isn't full of them. In fact, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are over 5,000 planes in the air over the Unite

Yes, this incredibly real test is done with a "chicken gun," and if you've seen the 2010 movie Captain Phillips, you know why. But before you report aviation experts to PETA, know that the chickens they receive are dead already. Airlines need to make sure that their windshields can protect pilots and passengers in the very likely event they collide with a bird. If