How come airplanes have no side mirrors?

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Melvin

Airplanes don't have side mirrors because:

1. Airplanes have someone in constant communication with called the Air Traffic Control (ATC). One of the main responsibilities of the ATC is to make sure that airplanes have a very safe and comfortable distance between one another and between land features such as mountains and volcanoes.

2. Airplanes have radar. Newer ones have GPS.

3. Airplanes can't shift gear to "R". If you have been observant in an airport, airplanes turn around when they taxi to the runway or in some cases towed (well, in reverse) by some other vehicle.

4. If you can actually see another plane with a side mirror while in flight, that constitutes a dangerous situation called a "near miss".

_smile_'s Kometa of Biga-a

Because up there,...

there is no traffic.

:) WB...

heyonah

From my experience flying smaller planes, I can not see how they would be of any use except perhaps during taxiing. While in the air, however, the plane is just too jerky and any reflection of any plane in the mirror would be way to small to see in the mirror. Basically if a plane is behind you, it is up to that pilot to stay a safe distance from your aircraft.

Alastair S911

What, that gets rip off at 300mph. But I saw rearview mirrors on F-14 and F-18.

luosechi é§±å£«åŸº

The second World War Mustang had them (just one I think).

stingjam

1. They dont need them. Most cant reverse or make manuevuers that require them.

2. Side mirrors are generally not aerodynamic AT ALL.

3. Many airplanes (especially smaller ones) DO have mirrors purely for the purposes of seeing directly behind the airplane (not the sides).

pero_102

during world war 1, some pilots do placed side mirrors , to see what's behind them, especially during dogfights or aircombats.

dewdrop

maneuvering a plane is not the same as driving a car. during take-off and taxiing (upon landing) the pilot depends on the ground crew (the guy holding the flashlight). during flight he has his sophisticated radar to guide him. side mirrors would be redundant.

Juan C

they don't have to look at their rears...

Kwago

What a STUPID question from a STUPID dog!

The drag would cause hundreds of bucks in fuel cost.
Besides rear end collisions is the other guys fault for not watching his radar.

Mickey the zombie

so how come planes have no rear view mirror?

Anne C

because cars dont have sensitive radars

Aref H4

I guess they have placed someone outside in the tail, and he has a can tied by a long string to another can in the cockpit, and he yells out either "All clear" or "We're done for!" when there's an oncoming plane at the rear or not.

little squee

because birds dont have ears

Datu Dagohoy

Radar functioning more appropriate than side mirror, so airplane using Radar instead of side mirror.

Also,Side mirror it's dangerous to use in airplane due to excessive force of air acting on it, this device collapsed when the airplane moving @ 800 miles/hour.

makuleth_41

pilots don't need those to know what's behind them, they just ask their pretty stewardesses to go at the back and check if there's a terrorist plane behind trying to hijack them. ksshhh XD

theonethatgotaway

so you don't overtake another plane.

Jaimee seeks HARMONY!

Because all the pilot will see are the plane's wings!

Oi...ready ka na umuwe?! Durian ko ha!=D
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I'm so jealous! 2 weeks pa ko...=c
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..and I agree with KWAGO!=D

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