airplane parachute

[Jeff California]

www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/12/...index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/12/22/airplane.parachutes.ap/index.html)

The last paragraph is strange. How did this guys plane "unexpectedly turn upside down"?

Anyways, an interesting concept.

[Passenger Mark]

Hey Jeff...

I have seen this before. They have been working on it for a couple of years.

The bad side is once the chute opens your have given up any control where you are landing.

But, I really don't get it... I don't see the need. When is the last time you have ever heard of a commercial plane having a catastrophic mechanical problem mid-flight. I don't think I have ever heard of it. (Other than the Alaskan flight)

I guess for light aircraft it would be useful if you ran out of fuel. But even then you can glide. I think I would rather glide with control, than parachute with no control. Or better yet... check my fuel level before I took off! :shocked

[spleisher]

Jeff...

A plane can very easily turn upside down in a hurry if you turn at a speed below the stall speed. One wing stalls before the other wing and you spin. This is how many general aviation accidents occur. It is indeed possible to put your plane into a spin at a low altitude if you are not careful.


Scott

[Passenger Mark]

But... we are speaking of small light aircraft.

Sorry... I did not read the entire article first.

Again, on a commercial jet, like a 737, I do not think I have ever heard of this happening at cruise.

With private aircraft it happens when you loose visual reference and don't pay attention to what the instruments are telling you. This is most likely what happened to JFK Jr...

[spleisher]

Or, if you have perfectly fine outside visual reference but get too slow and attempt too steep a bank.... Flip flip...