C4 - The Plane Crash

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Discussion

strudel

Original Poster:

5,888 posts

226 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
On this thursday at 9pm: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-plane-crash

In short - a deliberate plane crash to study the effects. Assuming the science holds up, this could be an interesting program.

LotusOmega375D

7,580 posts

152 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Didn't we have this sort of TV show with a remote control 707 a few years ago? Basically sit nearer the back if you want even the slightest chance of survival!

Ginetta G15 Girl

3,220 posts

183 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Better still - Don't crash!

fiatpower

3,005 posts

170 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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Looks interesting, got it set to record just in case I miss it.

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Or at least take an ejector seat with you...



Capt. Brian Bews wisely decides to land on foot.

coanda

2,642 posts

189 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
The pilot of the 727 leaves in a similar fashion.

I said over on UKAR that I think using this aircraft configuration rather than say, another 707 (crashed properly this time!) is somewhat unrepresentative of the majority of aircraft that passengers use today. The engine pods change things.

I will have to record the program as I'm in a B&B at Silverstone on Thursday for an early day at the PEC.

The actual crash is on youtube, but I won't spoil the fun discussing it now.


anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Go to the C4 website and you can pick a seat and "check in", then find out if you survived or not.
Last time I looked about 6500 people had logged in and picked a seat. No wonder the fking thing crashed.

stuttgartmetal

8,108 posts

215 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
The black box will survive.
Begging the question, why don't they make the plane out of the same stuff they make the black box out of?

NitroNick

743 posts

209 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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I've seen it, it had a few minutes that were interesting but the build up was painfully tedious.
The crash itself was pretty cool.

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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Back in 1984 NASA and the FAA deliberately crashed a worn out Boeing 720 as part of a programme into understanding the dynamics of a crash.
In the 1960s a number of staged accidents were run using old Douglas DC-6 and Constellation airliners.

I'm not sure what the point of this particular "experiment" is.

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
The black box will survive.
Begging the question, why don't they make the plane out of the same stuff they make the black box out of?
Not sure, but I always pick a seat near it as they always find that bit after a crash!

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
The black box will survive.
Begging the question, why don't they make the plane out of the same stuff they make the black box out of?
Not sure, but I always pick a seat near it as they always find that bit after a crash!

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
The black box will survive.
Begging the question, why don't they make the plane out of the same stuff they make the black box out of?
The plane would be too heavy to get off the ground.

Ultuous

2,247 posts

190 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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Indeed... I do find the idea of 'upselling' a black box-like protection cell around the passenger (despite the fact they'd be probably wiped out by the impact/ decceleration etc. anyway!) amusing however - I'm sure there are a fair few crazy folk who would opt for it! biggrin

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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But no crazy aircraft companies.

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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Eric Mc said:
The plane would be too heavy to get off the ground.
And being inside one wouldn't protect you from fatal G forces.

Parachutes for everyone might do something - but any airline that offered it might as well say 'We're going to crash'

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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Imagine the queue at the exit!

telecat

8,528 posts

240 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Back in 1984 NASA and the FAA deliberately crashed a worn out Boeing 720 as part of a programme into understanding the dynamics of a crash.
In the 1960s a number of staged accidents were run using old Douglas DC-6 and Constellation airliners.

I'm not sure what the point of this particular "experiment" is.
I'm sure that was to test a new Flame retardant fuel jelly that it turned out was worse than the real stuff. I'm not sure the effects on the "passengers" were accurately tested and modern Crash test dummies are better at recording impacts these days.

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
It was part of the test - and the one the British media mostly focussed on as it was a British additive that was being tested. However, there were other experiments on board that day as well as a desire to just observe how a more "modern" airliner behaved in an impact of this type. In 1984, that aircraft was about 25 years old and not all that different, structure wise, to more modern airliners of that era that were still in service - such as Boeing 727s, 737s and even 757s.

Previous crash tests had used time expired piston engined airliners and the data from those tests was considered obsolete or obsolescent by the 1980s. It's probably time for another such test although I don't think the deliberate crash of a 727 will yield much better information than what was obtained from the 720 crash in 1984.
I think the deliberate crash of an old widebody aircarft (DC-10, L1011, 747, 767,Airbus A300/310) might be of better value.

telecat

8,528 posts

240 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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Got to agree about a "modern" wide body would have been better. Especially as the 727 is a tough bird designed to get in and out of smaller less well tended Airports.