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Man ditches plane in ocean after running out of gas

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Big MAK, Oct 8, 2011.

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  1. Big MAK

    Big MAK Member

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    #1 Big MAK, Oct 8, 2011
  2. Big MAK

    Big MAK Member

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    Trying to put in the video...

    <object width="416" height="374" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=bestoftv/2011/10/08/helicopter-crash-rescue.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=bestoftv/2011/10/08/helicopter-crash-rescue.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object>
     
    #2 Big MAK, Oct 8, 2011
  3. BetterThanI

    BetterThanI Member

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    Fuel calculation is pretty tricky with planes, especially small ones. It's a trade-off: more fuel equals more weight equals slower plane. Pilots usually try to use the minimum amount of fuel necessary to make the trip.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_planning#Fuel_calculation
     
    #3 BetterThanI, Oct 8, 2011
  4. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Member

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    Another example of the failure of the American education system. Or, indeed, of America itself.
     
    #4 Carl Herrera, Oct 8, 2011
  5. Big MAK

    Big MAK Member

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    Yeah, obviously it's not as easy as planning how much gas you'll need for a car trip to Dallas, but still, 100 miles off is a great deal off... Not to mention you have to account for additional air time if you can't immediately land on the run way.

    Maybe the wind was much much stronger than predicted...
     
    #5 Big MAK, Oct 8, 2011
  6. TheTruth

    TheTruth Member

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    #6 TheTruth, Oct 10, 2011
  7. BetterThanI

    BetterThanI Member

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    Headwinds, air temp, air pressure...all of these can affect fuel consumption, and not all of them are 100% predictable. It's quite possible he had 30 mins of extra fuel and burned through it all. There are a whole series of possible causes for this, and pilot error is only one of them. Until the FAA investigates, we'll never know.
     
    #7 BetterThanI, Oct 10, 2011
  8. DonkeyMagic

    DonkeyMagic Member
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    nice landing.
     
    #8 DonkeyMagic, Oct 10, 2011
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