Throwing coins in plane engines ?
Discussion
Saw another post about people from certain areas of the globe thinking tis a good idea to throw loose change into a High Bypass Turbofan engine before take off, for good luck. How spectacularly stupid do you have to be to do that ?
Now I know its not a great idea, its a particularly daft one, especially when you are trying to get some luck out of the deal.
But realistically, aside from the airline being duty bound to go rooting round in the engine cowls and the cash retrieved probably not covering the incurred expenses from the delay, what is the actual risk to a modern Turbofan ?
I expect that they can deal with certain sized pieces of debris when spinning full tilt as part of the design and I am guessing here, that a normal collection of loose change would be expelled as the blade span up, in that they generate enough air movement at low engine speed to move a few grammes of coins out before the blades have enough speed/momentum to cause any/much damage ? Was also thinking that one getting trapped between blade and inlet that could be bad but interested to hear the opinion of those who know a lot more than me.
If there are any elderly Chinese ladies (main offender group with this MO) reading this looking for validation of this practice, just don't, asking from an engineering standpoint, its still a stupid idea !
I have a mangled blade off a CFM56, that was used to attempt liquidizing a large Sea bird, now that did damage it, but a 20p piece ?
Now I know its not a great idea, its a particularly daft one, especially when you are trying to get some luck out of the deal.
But realistically, aside from the airline being duty bound to go rooting round in the engine cowls and the cash retrieved probably not covering the incurred expenses from the delay, what is the actual risk to a modern Turbofan ?
I expect that they can deal with certain sized pieces of debris when spinning full tilt as part of the design and I am guessing here, that a normal collection of loose change would be expelled as the blade span up, in that they generate enough air movement at low engine speed to move a few grammes of coins out before the blades have enough speed/momentum to cause any/much damage ? Was also thinking that one getting trapped between blade and inlet that could be bad but interested to hear the opinion of those who know a lot more than me.
If there are any elderly Chinese ladies (main offender group with this MO) reading this looking for validation of this practice, just don't, asking from an engineering standpoint, its still a stupid idea !
I have a mangled blade off a CFM56, that was used to attempt liquidizing a large Sea bird, now that did damage it, but a 20p piece ?
My guess would be that its not so much direct damage, or that the coin won't be blown through but that they don't know where the coin has gone. The front fan blades don't lock tight when cold/slow, you can sometimes hear them shift (that continuous chatter/rattle) if the engine is gently windmilling as air blow through it. If the coin sits in one of those gaps and gets wedged it will throw the engine out of balance. If by some chance (again highly unlikely) it gets into the core, it won't pass through but will cause blockage until it melts/something goes wrong.
And isn't part of the problem that it isn't just one passenger that will do this, but quite a few do it. And as such, there might be more coins than you can see sitting on the cowling, and you've got to take things apart to have a proper look for them as well?
and although a "re-education" perhaps needs to take place; I have a proposal of a more simple piece of ground equipment that can be used to help the issue; a screen/guard on wheels that can be rolled into place in front of the engine during the ground time at the airport. Easier and than fitting the covers to the engine every time. A bit like one of those boards you see on a cricket ground, but perhaps made a chunk of perspex in a frame?
and although a "re-education" perhaps needs to take place; I have a proposal of a more simple piece of ground equipment that can be used to help the issue; a screen/guard on wheels that can be rolled into place in front of the engine during the ground time at the airport. Easier and than fitting the covers to the engine every time. A bit like one of those boards you see on a cricket ground, but perhaps made a chunk of perspex in a frame?
Edited by Shakermaker on Tuesday 16th April 15:14
Shakermaker said:
And isn't part of the problem that it isn't just one passenger that will do this, but quite a few do it. And as such, there might be more coins than you can see sitting on the cowling, and you've got to take things apart to have a proper look for them as well?
and although a "re-education" perhaps needs to take place; I have a proposal of a more simple piece of ground equipment that can be used to help the issue; a screen/guard on wheels that can be rolled into place in front of the engine during the ground time at the airport. Easier and than fitting the covers to the engine every time. A bit like one of those boards you see on a cricket ground, but perhaps made a chunk of perspex in a frame?
On the screen/guard it should be written in several languages that anyone caught throwing coins in the engine will have their ticked downgraded to sit in the hold.and although a "re-education" perhaps needs to take place; I have a proposal of a more simple piece of ground equipment that can be used to help the issue; a screen/guard on wheels that can be rolled into place in front of the engine during the ground time at the airport. Easier and than fitting the covers to the engine every time. A bit like one of those boards you see on a cricket ground, but perhaps made a chunk of perspex in a frame?
Edited by Shakermaker on Tuesday 16th April 15:14
J4CKO said:
Mave said:
Even a single 20p piece is capable of doing a lot of damage to a jet engine, especially if it gets into the core. Even if the aerofoils don't immediately disintegrate, the damage can make them much more susceptible to subsequent fatigue :-(
Capable, but how likely is it ?Mave said:
J4CKO said:
Mave said:
Even a single 20p piece is capable of doing a lot of damage to a jet engine, especially if it gets into the core. Even if the aerofoils don't immediately disintegrate, the damage can make them much more susceptible to subsequent fatigue :-(
Capable, but how likely is it ?El stovey said:
Where’s the link to people throwing coins into engines?
80 year old woman, 201728 year old man, Feb 2019
66 year old woman, Tuesday (six coins!)
Someone i used to know is an aircraft technician, he was working on the engine of a 747 and was given the job of taking/holding the bolts removed from another engineer. the instructions were - what ever you do don't drop these. minutes later there was a clunk...
They had to use boroscopes to inspect the engine to find it, which i believe they did luckily. if they hadn't have been able to find it they would have had to be changed the engine.
They had to use boroscopes to inspect the engine to find it, which i believe they did luckily. if they hadn't have been able to find it they would have had to be changed the engine.
Cold said:
El stovey said:
Where’s the link to people throwing coins into engines?
80 year old woman, 201728 year old man, Feb 2019
66 year old woman, Tuesday (six coins!)
aeropilot said:
Perhaps, more questions should be asked of Chinese airlines and airports, that they are even letting unsurpervisied PAX get that close to an aircraft engine for this to happen...........
Fly on a budget airline in Europe or anywhere you board via stairs rather than a tunnel and most people would have the opportunity.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff