10. What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane?
The emergency recording equipment is located in the tail of the craft where it is more likely to survive the initial impact, but why call them black when they are most definitely orange, really bright orange?
The term 'black box' originated as far back as the 17th century and referred to a coffin, which was dark within and darker still when buried. As slang for a 'flight recorder' it originated in the British Royal Air Force. Since the use of the box only comes into play after a catastrophe, the link with coffins seems apt.
