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Fact #01 - Sky Babies

Apart from a crash, the worst nightmare of every flight attendant is childbirth on board. Although extremely rare, nearly 60 babies were born in the sky!

https://www.cntraveller.in/story/explained-happens-baby-born-airplane/

Fact #02 - A long flight

The longest commercial flight you can book is a flight from Singapore to New York that lasts 18 hours 50 minutes... better get comfortable!

https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airlines/longest-nonstop-flights-in-the-world/

Fact #03 - 47 Seconds

Not a fan of airtime? The shortest flight available takes place in Scotland. It connects Westray to Papa Westray and takes 47 seconds!

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/08/worlds-shortest-commercial-flight-is.html

Fact #04 - Forbidden Number

Since the number 13 is considered an unlucky number in Western culture, most airlines don't have a row 13 on their planes!

Fact #05 - Nowhere to go

As a result of the pandemic, some companies started offering ‘flights to nowhere’. Although the destination was the same as the departure, it seemed to have been a commercial success!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/19/travel/airlines-pandemic-flights-to-nowhere.html

Fact #06 - Flight to HEL

In 2017, on a Friday the 13th, Flight 666 to HEL took off for the last time, before being renumbered.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/10/13/flight-666-to-hel-took-off-one-last-time-this-friday-the-13th/

Fact #07 - Dried Out

The pressurised air in the flight cabin is kept below 20% humidity, which is about the average humidity of the Sahara desert!

https://blueskypit.com/2019/05/24/drier-than-the-desert-tips-to-stay-hydrated-on-your-flight/

Fact #08 - Pilots' meals

In most airlines, pilots and co-pilots are required to eat different meals in case of food poisoning!

https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/surprising-reason-airplane-pilots-and-co-pilots-eat-different-meals

Fact #09 - Lucky Few

It is estimated that only around 5% of the world’s population gets boards on a plane each year.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/how-much-worlds-population-has-flown-airplane-180957719/

Fact #10 - Taste Buds

Your taste buds become 30% less sensitive while flying. But not every flavor is affected equally!

https://www.businessinsider.com/airplane-food-tastes-different-explained-2020-1#:~:text=A%202010%20study%20tested%20people's,30%25%20while%20in%20the%20cabin.

Fact #11 - Mayday, Mayday

"MAYDAY" was made official as an international distress call in 1948. It is derived from the French word "m’aidez", which means "help me"!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/mayday-meaning-origin

Fact #12 - Old Bones

The average age of commercial aircraft is 20 years. They are usually retired at around 30 years of age.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/flight-plan/what-commercial-airlines-can-do-to-extend-the-longevity-of-their-fleet/article34805181.ece

Fact #13 - Fast as lightning

From 1976 to 2003, the Concorde flew at twice the speed of sound, connecting NYC to London in 2 hours and 52 minutes!

https://simpleflying.com/concorde-new-york-to-london-time/

Fact #14 - In the dark

At night, lights on board are dimmed for landing and takeoff so that in the event of an emergency, passengers' eyes will already be adjusted to darkness.

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-real-reason-planes-dim-the-lights-during-takeoff-and-landing

Fact #15 - Raise your shade

On landing and take-off, attendants ask you to raise your shade so they can see outside and decide which side of the aircraft is the safest if an evacuation was needed!

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-do-airlines-ask-you-to-raise-window-shades-during-takeoff

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