The Virgin Atlantic drama yesterday

[Filo]

First of all a massive praise to the pilot and co pilot for bringing the plane and passengers down safely

The incident got me thinking why in the event of a apparent failure of the landing gear like yesterday is the plane not constructed with a manual overide where the gear can be wound down and locked into place by hand? I'm no aviation expert but it makes sense to me to incorporate something like this in the planes design as a standard safety feature

[Muttley]

I reckon you're well on your way to your first/next million with that idea Filo!

Our resident Betterware salesman had better stand aside, we've got a new Entrepreneur-in-Chief!

[Filo]

I reckon you're well on your way to your first/next million with that idea Filo!

Our resident Betterware salesman had better stand aside, we've got a new Entrepreneur-in-Chief!

Muttley, unlike our champion betterware salesman, I know my limitations

[BillyStubbsTears]

Filo

You ever seen Dr Strangelove?

Major Kong did that when the nuke wouldn't release from the bomb bay. Climbed down and released it manually. And went down riding the bomb as it fell.

[DRFCSouth]

It does have such a device already. Normally the gear is lowered via hydraulic pressure.In the event of a failure and dependent on aircraft type, the gear can be lowered in an emergency via a variety of devices, such as pneumatic (explosive cartridges of air/nitrogen) or via gravity and aerodynamic forces. These are all controlled via switches in the cockpit. Its normally indicated via green lights to indicate as an example, that the gear is down and locked.

On an aircraft of that size, travelling at the speed it does, it would be very difficult to have a hand wound device unless it was assisted in some way.

[Filo]

Filo

You ever seen Dr Strangelove?

Major Kong did that when the nuke wouldn't release from the bomb bay. Climbed down and released it manually. And went down riding the bomb as it fell.

I'm not much of a film person to be honest, so I haven't seen it

Are you saying my theory is just the dream of the Holywood filmmakers?

[nightporter]

They did it in Memphis Belle too.

[Draytonian III]

I,ll think about the landing gear not deploying properly the next time I'm on a aeroplane.







In about 2 hours time 

[Bentley Bullet]

Why don't they just leave them down all the time? 

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

2 reasons I would think.  Firstly the effect of aerodynamic drag might harm fuel efficiency, speed etc.

Secondly, the potential that the gear hanging could be more easily damaged and wear if exposed to the elements at 30k feet plus.

I've flown VA once before when I worked in the States and they were decent flights though the coffee machine leaked fluid all over the cabin on the way back, not good.

I'm flying Thomas Cook to Florida next year, their long haul is the best one I've done to there surprisingly, I rated it above VA. I did love my recent BA flights though, if only they weren't so expensive.

[Bentley Bullet]

I flew once with TWA. The stewardess asked me if I'd like to sample her TWA coffee. I said I'd prefer to sample her TWA - T(ea)

[idler]

Blooming heck BB. I heard that in the Scala about 1967c 

[IDM]

2 reasons I would think.  Firstly the effect of aerodynamic drag might harm fuel efficiency, speed etc.

Secondly, the potential that the gear hanging could be more easily damaged and wear if exposed to the elements at 30k feet plus.

Quite right.  The drag at cruising speed would be horrendous and would also seriously hamper the control of the aircraft.

At cruising speeds the undercarriage would probably sustain damage too.

As for airlines of choice, my best experiences have been with Emirates.

[Dagenham Rover]

Well going back a few years traveling to Hong Kong fairly frequently,  number 1 Cathay Pacific and a fairly close second was British Caledonian

[Filo]

Quantas, apparently have never lost an aircraft

[DRFCSouth]

Quantas, apparently have never lost an aircraft

They almost lost an A380 not too long ago. Turbine exploded out of the engine, disabling numerous systems. It had to land 40 tons overweight at Singapore. Took the majority of a 4000m runway to stop.

[Mike_F]

Talking about landing overweight, that reminds me of a journey back from Cancun in 2004. Some poor bugger returning from honeymoon died of a heart attack inboard and we had to make an emergency landing at Ft. Lauderdale. The pilot came on the PA saying "Don't worry if you see fuel flying past the windows, we need to jettison it so we're not overweight for landing." Took about an hour of circling the Bahamas to Dutch enough aviation fuel for a cross-Atlantic trip.

On the ground, we were boarded by a team of US marines head to toe in black armour, carrying M16s and ordered to remain seated.

[BobG]

Why Mike? What possible reason could there be for full metal jacket marines when a bloke's died of a heart attack? Or was there something a bit more troublesome?

If the event was as you describe it Mike, all I can suggest is that some are born great. Some achieve greatness. And some have greatness thrust upon them. Guess which category the Yanks thrust themselves into time after time after time!

BobG

[Mike_F]

I think it was a case of post 9-11 emergency landing over-zealous security. They wanted to ensure the story checked out and the bloke had died of natural causes onboard. Still a bit scary, mind!

[BillyStubbsTears]

Reminds me of when Al Qaeda were planning a campaign of dropping bombs into litter bins in densely populated areas, with the idea that the bin material turns into deadly shrapnel. Network Rail took the litter bins off all stations.

Our kid commented that Osama was probably kicking in the doors in his Hindu Kush retreat in frustration that his plan to exterminate the infidels at Conisbrough station had been scotched.

[Mike_F]

Never thought to google at the time, this was us: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/1621819/

Could've answered their questions for 'em.

[Dutch Uncle]

Quantas, apparently have never lost an aircraft

They almost lost an A380 not too long ago. Turbine exploded out of the engine, disabling numerous systems. It had to land 40 tons overweight at Singapore. Took the majority of a 4000m runway to stop.

Qantas had another near miss in 2008 when a section of the fuselage was ripped off in flight

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/world/asia/26qantas.html?_r=0

Been watching too many Dustin Hoffman films Filo? (Rainman)