Flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders are typically painted bright orange and have shells made of hardened titanium or stainless steel with internal insulation designed to survive temperatures up to about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit for at least one hour.
November 04, 2025
high
technical
Construction and thermal survivability standards for so-called 'black boxes'
Jet fuel burns at temperatures generally between about 800 degrees Fahrenheit and 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
November 04, 2025
high
technical
Typical combustion temperature range for aviation jet fuels
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) organizes aviation accident investigations into specialized groups such as operations, structures, powerplants, systems, and maintenance.
November 04, 2025
high
procedural
Describes standard investigative organization used by the NTSB for aviation accident probes.
Cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders are commonly referred to as 'black boxes'.
November 04, 2025
high
definition
Terminology used for the devices that record flight data and cockpit audio in aircraft.
The X-59's long, pointed nose design reduces direct forward visibility, leading the design to rely on forward-looking imagery presented on a cockpit monitor for pilot situational awareness.
October 23, 2025
high
temporal
Aerodynamic shaping that trades direct pilot forward visibility for low-sonic-boom shaping, mitigated by remote imagery systems.