Random facts about planes..
Discussion
CanAm said:
Without any power any aircraft can glide for some distance.
"Some distance" being likely to be a whole lot further for a Lockheed U2 than a Cessna 172.
A typical sparrow bird has a lift to drag ratio of 4:1, whereas an albatross is much more efficient with 20:1."Some distance" being likely to be a whole lot further for a Lockheed U2 than a Cessna 172.
A modern glider which demonstrates the most efficient of wing profiles can have a lift to drag ratio of 60:1.
CanAm said:
Without any power any aircraft can glide for some distance.
"Some distance" being likely to be a whole lot further for a Lockheed U2 than a Cessna 172.
You guys must (have) hear (d) about the Gimli Glider."Some distance" being likely to be a whole lot further for a Lockheed U2 than a Cessna 172.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider
In short, Canada went from Imperial system of measuring (sorry for my French) to Metric... That did not reach the guys at an airline there who thought they filled xxx thousands of ImpGallons but it was xxx thousands of Liters. The estimated Glide Ratio was 12:1 ...
Markbarry1977 said:
Used to work on c130 hercs, did you know the yanks once landed one on an aircraft carrier and took off later (not a touch and go). It used rockets facing forward and backwards to assist with accelerating and decelerating.
Later testing didn't go so well when one of the pilots set the rockets off early on approach and they he thing fell out the sky from about 100ft.
Videos are on YouTube.
You are mixing up two programmes.Later testing didn't go so well when one of the pilots set the rockets off early on approach and they he thing fell out the sky from about 100ft.
Videos are on YouTube.
The carrier tests were conducted in the early 1960s using a fairly standard US Marines KC-130F
Although successful, it was deemed that regular operations such as this would be too dangerous and the tests did no lead to operational use.
The tests where rockets were used as "brakes" were in 1979 and were a very hastilly put together series of tests conducted as part of the attempt to rescue US Embassy hostages being held in Iran. As you said, the test did not end well.
greghm said:
CanAm said:
Without any power any aircraft can glide for some distance.
"Some distance" being likely to be a whole lot further for a Lockheed U2 than a Cessna 172.
You guys must (have) hear (d) about the Gimli Glider."Some distance" being likely to be a whole lot further for a Lockheed U2 than a Cessna 172.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider
In short, Canada went from Imperial system of measuring (sorry for my French) to Metric... That did not reach the guys at an airline there who thought they filled xxx thousands of ImpGallons but it was xxx thousands of Liters. The estimated Glide Ratio was 12:1 ...
The problem was more subtle.
They were flying a Boeing 767 - which is an American built aircraft where fuel is normally measured in pounds and gallons.
The fuel gauges on the aircraft were not operating correctly. This was a known fault and the crew were fully aware of this. They used alternative methods to ensure fuel was loaded correctly i.e. the equivalent of dipsticks.
The fuel was loaded measured in Kilos and litres (it was a Canadian airport)
The wrong conversion factor was used by the ground refuellers when loading fuel onto the aircraft resulting in too little fuel being uplifted
The CIA experimented with skyhook systems back in the day to enable people to be 'grabbed' by passing aircraft.
As part of testing, a live pig was used 'as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph (200 km/h). It arrived on board uninjured but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew'
I would pay good money to watch that film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-ai...
As part of testing, a live pig was used 'as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph (200 km/h). It arrived on board uninjured but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew'
I would pay good money to watch that film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-ai...
LordLoveLength said:
The CIA experimented with skyhook systems back in the day to enable people to be 'grabbed' by passing aircraft.
As part of testing, a live pig was used 'as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph (200 km/h). It arrived on board uninjured but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew'
I would pay good money to watch that film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-ai...
Didn't this happen in a (Sean Connery) James Bond film where he was picked up by a Coast Guard B17? Thunderball?As part of testing, a live pig was used 'as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph (200 km/h). It arrived on board uninjured but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew'
I would pay good money to watch that film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-ai...
Atomic12C said:
A typical sparrow bird has a lift to drag ratio of 4:1, whereas an albatross is much more efficient with 20:1.
A modern glider which demonstrates the most efficient of wing profiles can have a lift to drag ratio of 60:1.
Which is why it's really annoying when you're in a thermal and a bloody seagull just spirals up the middle past you. Aerodynamically he's similar or less efficient so you know it's just down the pilots abilities A modern glider which demonstrates the most efficient of wing profiles can have a lift to drag ratio of 60:1.
greghm said:
CanAm said:
Without any power any aircraft can glide
Well, being an ex aviator I was aware of that, but I was focused on the 747 and the four engine failure after flying through volcanic dust over Indonesia. At a lower altitude the dust blew out and they were able to re-start the engines.Spoke about it to some of the crew involved.
IanH755 said:
A RAF Merlin helicopter can take off, fly to a destination, hover into wind and stop 20ft above the ground all automatically without the pilots ever touching the flying controls.
Once the helicopter is ready to fly the pilots are only "needed" (by the aircraft) to push the "take-off" button at the start, push the "I agree for the helicopter to descend from 60ft to 20ft" button and finally to push the collective down for the last 20ft (which has to be done by a human for safety) at the end.
Pretty amazing when you think about it!
To be fair, a Tornado could do a pretty similar thing back in the 80's. Once the driver got off the ground you press play on the tape and it would fly via way points a set heights and drop the bombs where programmed and then return to base for the driver to land it.Once the helicopter is ready to fly the pilots are only "needed" (by the aircraft) to push the "take-off" button at the start, push the "I agree for the helicopter to descend from 60ft to 20ft" button and finally to push the collective down for the last 20ft (which has to be done by a human for safety) at the end.
Pretty amazing when you think about it!
Edited by IanH755 on Tuesday 11th April 15:34
nonsequitur said:
Without any power the 747 can glide for some distance.
yephttp://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2012/10/speedbird-...
eccles said:
To be fair, a Tornado could do a pretty similar thing back in the 80's. Once the driver got off the ground you press play on the tape and it would fly via way points a set heights and drop the bombs where programmed and then return to base for the driver to land it.
I remember asking a Tornado pilot what the tape deck was for, when I had a look around the cockpit on one of my first flying lessons with the ATC many years ago. (I wasn't flying the Tornado by the way, I was in a rattly washing machine otherwise known as a Chipmunk).He said it was for simply listening to mission instructions and target information etc. Or if they chose to, to listen to a bit of rock and roll !
I guess I was asking a question that required a classified answer back then
LordLoveLength said:
The CIA experimented with skyhook systems back in the day to enable people to be 'grabbed' by passing aircraft.
As part of testing, a live pig was used 'as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph (200 km/h). It arrived on board uninjured but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew'
I would pay good money to watch that film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-ai...
The Fulton system was deployed in service; I think I saw it demonstrated at RIAT one year.As part of testing, a live pig was used 'as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph (200 km/h). It arrived on board uninjured but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew'
I would pay good money to watch that film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-ai...
Eric Mc said:
Trevatanus said:
nonsequitur said:
Without any power the 747 can glide for some distance.
yephttp://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2012/10/speedbird-...
As can this -
Or even one of these -
[pic]http://diy.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/diy/fullset/2011/2/23/12/RX-DK-DIY082003_common-brick_s4x3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.966.725.jpeg [/pic]
Mach 25 according to Google.
It's all about energy management. Most objects that have a flat planed surface can glide if they
a) present the flat surface to the airflow
b) have sufficient altitude and/or initial energy to provide forward motion
Obviously, some objects will glide better than others but there aren't that many things that can't glide a bit.
a) present the flat surface to the airflow
b) have sufficient altitude and/or initial energy to provide forward motion
Obviously, some objects will glide better than others but there aren't that many things that can't glide a bit.
Eric Mc said:
It's all about energy management. Most objects that have a flat planed surface can glide if they
a) present the flat surface to the airflow
b) have sufficient altitude and/or initial energy to provide forward motion
Obviously, some objects will glide better than others but there aren't that many things that can't glide a bit.
lots of school teachers out there today.a) present the flat surface to the airflow
b) have sufficient altitude and/or initial energy to provide forward motion
Obviously, some objects will glide better than others but there aren't that many things that can't glide a bit.
Which reminds me, on my training course for BOAC, there was an ex teacher. He didn't finish the training, he just knew it all.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff