Planespotting II
#1801
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,545
Re: Planespotting II
The novel is Marazan, by Nevil Shute. It’s his first published novel. Not sure how many he published, he was prolific, I’ve read quite a few of them. He was an aeronautical engineer by profession. His Second World War novels are all really good. In terms of authoritative sounding technical details & plot elements, he’s usually pretty believable but also introduces some slightly weird ones like this .. it obviously plays no part in the plot, he seems to have just written it in to have fun.
#1802
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,128
Re: Planespotting II
The novel is Marazan, by Nevil Shute. It’s his first published novel. Not sure how many he published, he was prolific, I’ve read quite a few of them. He was an aeronautical engineer by profession. His Second World War novels are all really good. In terms of authoritative sounding technical details & plot elements, he’s usually pretty believable but also introduces some slightly weird ones like this .. it obviously plays no part in the plot, he seems to have just written it in to have fun.
#1807
Re: Planespotting II
Seriously though, they really went out of fashion after the 1980's, presumably due to increased airport security. Also after most countries started refusing to let a highjacked plane take off once it had landed, which I think was the policy in the UK from the time of the first hijacks - "once you're down, you're staying".
That said, the key part of your post is "seeing a photo" .... there's no reason to take a photo if something that isn't extraordinary, and when I first started flying from London Gatwick to Charlotte, NC (which was 1998) it wasn't uncommon to go to the departure gate at Gatwick, then, instead of walking down the airbridge onto the plane, passengers were directed through a side door, down a staircase, and onto a waiting bus. The bus then drove across the airfield to a remote parking area where the plane was waiting with a set of steps for passengers to climb to get onto the plane. That wasn't always the case, but after the Great Recession of 2008-2010, Charlotte flights were rerouted to LHR where AFAIK nobody gets bussed to a remote parking area to board their plane.
#1809
Re: Planespotting II
Don't recall it specifically but it has the hallmarks.
#1810
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,128
Re: Planespotting II
Another proposal for an electric commuter aircraft. A 76 tonner - of which 34 tonnes is battery, 90 passengers, range approximately 500 nms. Current equivalent, for example, is the Dash 8, 82 pax, maximum take off weight approx 32 tonnes, range 1100 nms.
Hmmm.
Hmmm.
#1811
Re: Planespotting II
How much further if they collect all passenger cellphones?
#1812
#1813
Re: Planespotting II
For reason of weight, battery power is never likely to be practical for aircraft unless/until a battery is invented that does not use large quantities of metal, and as of now, no such technology exists. Capacitors are a lighter way to store electricity, but cannot store anywhere near the amount of energy that a battery can.
#1814
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,128
Re: Planespotting II
"Chaos broke out on a flight after maggots began raining on to plane passengers from an overhead compartment.
The "absolutely gross" situation saw the Delta flight forced to make a U-turn about an hour into the nine-hour trip from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Passengers reported the back of the plane was left teeming with the larvae that it later emerged were emanating from a rotten fish".
No flies then!
The "absolutely gross" situation saw the Delta flight forced to make a U-turn about an hour into the nine-hour trip from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Passengers reported the back of the plane was left teeming with the larvae that it later emerged were emanating from a rotten fish".
No flies then!
#1815
Re: Planespotting II
"Chaos broke out on a flight after maggots began raining on to plane passengers from an overhead compartment.
The "absolutely gross" situation saw the Delta flight forced to make a U-turn about an hour into the nine-hour trip from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Passengers reported the back of the plane was left teeming with the larvae that it later emerged were emanating from a rotten fish".
No flies then!
The "absolutely gross" situation saw the Delta flight forced to make a U-turn about an hour into the nine-hour trip from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Passengers reported the back of the plane was left teeming with the larvae that it later emerged were emanating from a rotten fish".
No flies then!