Saturday was peaceful, quiet, and the weather was mild. So what Sasha was doing in the opening photo? That's where I was mentally. Reading, relaxing, and taking my leisure.
As night fell, I realized that perhaps I should write a post for Sunday.
I looked around, the Muse was nowhere to be seen.
Apparently I had given her the day off.
It happens from time to time. As much as I enjoy writing, there are days when the tank is empty, the cupboard is bare, and I just ain't feeling it.
Oh, I suppose I could find something in the news to get wound up about, but it was just too pleasant a day for that sort of thing. Besides which, in these early days I, unlike some, am willing to give the new guys the benefit of the doubt. Time will tell whether or not they will do the right thing or not. We shall see, won't we?
Anyhoo, when I am at a loss for things to write about (or lack the energy to do so), it is my practice to give you a video. Consider today's Sarge to be "Substitute Teacher Sarge." No homework, no pop quizzes, just something to answer a question which has floated through my head once or twice but didn't stick.
Why aren't commercial airliners equipped with parachutes? My initial thought was that most people can't be bothered to read the safety card on board the aircraft nor bother to pay attention when the safety briefing is given, even as perfunctory as it is. So why would they bother to read the instructions about how to jump out of the aircraft should the need arise?
Anyway, Simon answers the question very well. Enjoy.
Hey! What about ejection seats? Oh dear, no. Just think about it...
Parachutes would bring the promise of a multitude of Darwin Awards... methinks.
ReplyDeleteYup, that's for sure.
DeleteUncle Skip is right. And while some might find the resultant 'thinning of the herd' desirable, I have no personal desire to experience it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Rev, I would not care to be a firsthand witness to that.
DeleteImagine that you make a trip to the strato-potty, only to find, when you've finished, that all the seats and passengers have gone...
ReplyDeleteI try to limit my trips to the strato-potty, though not for that reason.
DeleteHave the entire potty eject, like the F-111 crew cabin?
Well, they have been talking about airliners where the cabin detaches from the flying parts of the aircraft. I believe it's intended to more efficiently load and unload the aircraft. It shouldn't be tooooo hard to add some kind of parachute to that and allow it to be detached in flight.
DeleteThat might be doable.
DeleteYes, but as was pointed out, most crashes happen during take-off or landing. Parachute not so useful then.
DeletePaul
Not unless you've got some system which can take the passengers/crew away from the aircraft in a hurry. Like an ejection seat. Which isn't really feasible for a larger aircraft I would think.
DeleteJust think back to the trouble they had simply placing a carry on bag into the overhead compartment. Plus, think of the number of people who would ignore the order to leave everything on the plane as they jumped from it?
ReplyDeleteYup. First they bring all of their worldly possessions into the cabin and then take forever to stow them.
DeleteYeah, seeing them try to jump would be painful. Literally in the long run.
How would they open the door, the pressure inside the aircraft is pushing it against the seal. If you notice when they open it on the ground, it moves inward first, then swings outward. That wouldn't be possible airborne, unless they depressurized. Given that the time of useful consciousness in the 30s and above is measured in seconds...Nobody would make it out.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteHeh, ejection seats, heh. You can't get most of the passengers to stow their stuff correctly, how are you going to get all 100++ to 'Keep their elbows in'?
ReplyDeleteNot to mention a giant lawn dart is a bad enough disaster. Combining it with a claymore mine worth of falling chairs, or hundreds of people chaff is mind boggling. But, hrm, love to see some hollyweird special effects version of this just for snits and griggles... (okay, my mind works in verrrry mysterious ways...)
Heh. I too would like to see the special effects folks do that.
DeleteThanks, that was a most amusing video.
ReplyDeletePaul L. Quandt
:)
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