Lots of questions Jerry. Im sure i'll get shot down on some of my answers but here goes.
1. Yep. Seattle for Boeing and Toulouse for Airbus. These are their main production plants, their HQ's, and a lot of testing is done here.
2. OK here goes. Lets keep it simple.....you can spend your life being pedantic about this !!....
Turbo-Jet= The very first type of jet engine. All the air entering the front is compressed, combusted and sent out the back passing through a turbine stage on its way. The turbine stage at the back is connected to the front compressor. The turbine spinning at the back drives the compressor at the front which sucks more air in and so on etc etc etc.
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/flight64.htm
Turbo-fan = Much more air than a turbo-jet is taken in at the front large fan section. Most of this air (75 to 80 %) is ducted around the power section, i.e. doesnt get burnt, and is mixed with the remaining 20% combusted air in the exhaust. This engine produces a lot more thrust than a turbo-jet for the same fuel burnt, is more fuel efficient, and is quieter.
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/flight65.htm
Turbo-prop= Think of a turbo-jet engine. Now instead of the turbine being connected to a compressor stage its connected to a propeller. Air comes in the main air-intake, gets compressed, burnt, sent off to the turbine stage which starts spinning which in turn drives the prop at the front from which thrust is generated.
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/flight66.htm
3. Again simple everyday stuff. Multiply your altitude, in thousands, by 3 for the distance you should be at for a 3° glideslope. Example..
a. I'm at 30,000 feet
b. Drop the thousands = 30
c. 30 x 3 = 90
Answer - I should start descent at 90 miles from the airport.
8000 feet = 8
8 x 3 = 24
Start descent 24 nm from airport.
3000 feet = 3
3 x 3 = 9
Start descent 9 nm from airport
What should be your rate of descent ?
Roughly 5 Times your groundspeed.... so groundspeed is 150 kts 150 kts x 5 = 750 feet per minute descent rate.
Approach speed - Varies with weight and aircraft type. Typical boeing 737 landing speed.. about 135 kts.
Pitch of the aircraft - Again varies with aircraft type. Aircraft like a B737 its about + 4° to + 2° nose up. But many variations, like weight, flap config, is it a single engine approach ? change this so its hard to say.
http://www.b737.org.uk/pilotnotes.htm
Hope this answers some of your questions and you find the links useful. I can hear them building the gallows for me already .....
