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Re: irrational fear of flying
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Originally Posted by
donevwil
Maybe this should be a Thursday Grump, but I "have" to fly (from SFO) to Europe (ZRH or FRA) in five weeks to buy off some automation in CH & Germany (I took my current job partly to avoid having to fly for work). Five day turn around with no time to visit family in CH. I'm 6' 5" @ 240# and have to fly coach. Kill me now!
On another note, when in Central OR (Madras) check out the
Erickson Aircraft Collection, one of the better under the radar air museums out there. Came across it while on a bike tour no less.
I’m not quite your size but still tall so I feel your pain. I’ve flown across the Atlantic 8-10 times in the past year and I’ve been buying upgrades to ‘premium economy’ or whatever each airline calls it. It makes a huge difference and is usually around $100 so the price is worth it for me to get some actual sleep. Noise cancelling headphones and earplugs at the same time also help that cause.
Safe travels
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Re: irrational fear of flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mabouya
Hey, save images like that for the ‘Rational Fear of Flying’ thread.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
https://i.imgur.com/19W2kPe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tvOvsp5.jpg
I dont believe in Tarot cards and Palm readers, but I spent the past week supporting a client in a bs claim and this is the puzzle that is in this month's Delta Airlines magazine. I texted the pic of 29 down to my client and their attorneys on Sunday evening and asked if they believed in omens...come Thursday they did. (play eerie music in the background)
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Re: irrational fear of flying
https://nyti.ms/2Bt6qlF
Did the screamers think that was somehow going to make it less likely that they were going to crash?
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018...=100&auto=webp
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Re: irrational fear of flying
I wonder how many people found religion on that flight? Jeez
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: irrational fear of flying
I’m an unabashed airplane geek ever since I can remember. I’ve flown on everything I possibly could, from a hot-air balloon to the Concorde. In between, a P-51, a B-17 & B-25, float planes and helicopters. Damn near cried when I got bumped from a ride in a TF-106 and a Goodyear blimp. Spent 8 years in the USAF as an aircraft mechanic working and flying with my airplanes.
The pic (of a photo) is of me, wearing my BELL newsie hat, taken at the Monterey airport waiting for the fuel truck after having hauled a load motorcycle enthusiasts to watch the 1973 races. The plane is my Piper Seneca which was pretty nifty and when not carrying passengers would take my wife and I, our luggage and two Honda CT-70 mini bikes most anywhere. Good times!
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Re: irrational fear of flying
Nice. I did my JAA Commercial (CPL), IFR amp multi-engine ratings in a turbocharged Seneca III. Zurich-Friedrichshafen-Altenrhein-Zurich, with an actual NDB approach into Friedrichshafen. Those approaches are pretty much nonexistent today.
On the last segment, after lunch and getting gas in Altenrhein, the starter didn’t want to turn. So we hand cranked it with the mags on and got it to start. The guy pulling the prop knew what he was doing thankfully because I wasn’t going anywhere near it.
Good memories!
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Re: irrational fear of flying
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Originally Posted by
Saab2000
Nice. I did my JAA Commercial (CPL), IFR amp multi-engine ratings in a turbocharged Seneca III. Zurich-Friedrichshafen-Altenrhein-Zurich, with an actual NDB approach into Friedrichshafen. Those approaches are pretty much nonexistent today.
On the last segment, after lunch and getting gas in Altenrhein, the starter didn’t want to turn. So we hand cranked it with the mags on and got it to start. The guy pulling the prop knew what he was doing thankfully because I wasn’t going anywhere near it.
Good memories!
I have a fairly gruesome story about my father, a prop, and an ignition that was turned on. (He worked at an air freight company at ATL in the early 60s.)
He survived, but changed careers shortly afterwards.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by
taz
I have a fairly gruesome story about my father, a prop, and an ignition that was turned on. (He worked at an air freight company at ATL in the early 60s.)
He survived, but changed careers shortly afterwards.
Sorry to hear this. Props need to be respected as deadly, even when stationary.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Saab2000
Nice. I did my JAA Commercial (CPL), IFR amp multi-engine ratings in a turbocharged Seneca III. Zurich-Friedrichshafen-Altenrhein-Zurich, with an actual NDB approach into Friedrichshafen. Those approaches are pretty much nonexistent today.
On the last segment, after lunch and getting gas in Altenrhein, the starter didn’t want to turn. So we hand cranked it with the mags on and got it to start. The guy pulling the prop knew what he was doing thankfully because I wasn’t going anywhere near it.
Good memories!
I got my commercial, multi-engine in a Seneca, not mine, and started working at the Piper dealer selling airplanes. Bought my Seneca, as they were relatively cheap in ‘72, so I could haul passengers for money as well as do a leaseback to the FBO so they had a twin in their flight school as well as fly around the country in a pretty spiffy set of wings. Kinda like bike nowadays I guess, always trying to move up some ladder.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
You folks might enjoy these photos which were the subject of a CNN article last week...click the gallery for larger photos.
Pilot'''s spectacular photos taken from an airplane cockpit | CNN Travel
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Re: irrational fear of flying
http://i.imgur.com/zTZ8RNX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DfHdVIf.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/crbvpLu.jpg
It was one of those days in the air when you had to approach things from a "glass half full" perspective. Ice, sleet and rain in DTW and heavy air traffic in SEA...or based on our route map, perhaps our crew became lost over Spokane. Mother Nature also added insult to injury by not having a gate for our aircraft when we landed in SEA, resulting in us exiting onto the tarmac in order to be bussed to a gate. There were quite a few folks on board with connections to Asia who didn't quite make it. Oh well.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
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Re: irrational fear of flying
This is bad news all the way around. I built CFM56s - they are built like tanks. I can't say much about the investigation other than it is getting all the attention it deserves.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
However, nice to know there are pilots like Capt. Shultz in the cockpit when something like ^that^ happens. Unfortunately one person died, which is tragic. It could have been the whole plane though, but it wasn't.
Southwest Pilot Who Landed Crippled Plane Is Navy Veteran With ‘Nerves of Steel’ - The New York Times
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+1, what a badass pilot!!
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
Excellent response to an emergency by a highly skilled pilot, no question.
Some others here will know far more than I but the good news for the flying public is that, unless I am much mistaken or training requirements have been reduced since my fathers time (you know, those "overbearing government regulations" that kill industry) sudden depressurization and single engine/engine failure operation in various flight regimes (like after passing refusal during take off on an unbalanced runway) are training SOP. And not once, and not single failures by themselves, but as part of annual or biennial training at Flight Safety, or whomever provides that sort of training these days. I know when my father was flying FL1 that type of retraining was standard and rigorous.
It's something to keep in mind when people bitch about government required safety regulations, regardless of the industry.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
I'd forgotten about the SW 737 that had an uncontained turbine failure in 2016 and landed in Pensacola. Subsequently CFM International recommended that blade inspections be performed within 12 months but SW petitioned the FAA for increased time. It would be interesting to know what happened in the interim, and why, but based on one report the FAA is going to make the inspections mandatory pretty quickly.
General take home message: It's a real good idea to prohibit industry insiders, like Pruitt heading up the EPA for example, from having anything to do with regulation of the industries in which they worked....or any industries for that matter.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jclay
General take home message: It's a real good idea to prohibit industry insiders, like Pruitt heading up the EPA for example, from having anything to do with regulation of the industries in which they worked....or any industries for that matter.
This is nuts.
Everyone knows that increased corporate profits today are way more important than the legacy of global environmental spoliation we're leaving for future generations...
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
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Originally Posted by
Mabouya
This is nuts.
Everyone knows that increased corporate profits today are way more important than the legacy of global environmental spoliation we're leaving for future generations...
A sidenote: we were in Washington DC Saturday for the Cherry Blossom Festival and parade. Walking to the parade route from the Metro station the street passed along the length of the side of the EPA building. The entire side was strewn with everyday litter, trash and debris, astonishingly so. The irony of that sight was not lost on many of those walking along there. Lots of comments were heard, none kind.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
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Originally Posted by
Dave Thompson
A sidenote: we were in Washington DC Saturday for the Cherry Blossom Festival and parade. Walking to the parade route from the Metro station the street passed along the length of the side of the EPA building. The entire side was strewn with everyday litter, trash and debris, astonishingly so. The irony of that sight was not lost on many of those walking along there. Lots of comments were heard, none kind.
Litter is DC's territory. It would only involve the EPA if that litter contained toxic substances that were present in large enough quantities to affect the air or water supply.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
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Originally Posted by
bcm119
Litter is DC's territory. It would only involve the EPA if that litter contained toxic substances that were present in large enough quantities to affect the air or water supply.
I am sure the production facilities that made the litter do produce the requisite toxic substances, in addition to producing litter.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bcm119
Litter is DC's territory. It would only involve the EPA if that litter contained toxic substances that were present in large enough quantities to affect the air or water supply.
You're probably correct to assume that the litter is not hazmat. But when the EPA is spending $43,000 on a soundproof booth for Pruitt's office, and $5800 for biometric locks, to fit that into the operations budget you have to lay off a groundskeeper.
But more on topic, how long has the FAA been operating headless? Is that why CFM's maintenance bulletin (voluntary) for the engine that failed did not become an airworthiness directive (mandatory)?
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
seems like a good place to post this:
had the pleasure of a window seat viewing of United getting my S&S travel bike case airborne onto the conveyor belt last week. good thing i keep a cam buckle strap on the case at all times.
https://scontent-ort2-1.cdninstagram...44268032_n.jpg
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AngryScientist
seems like a good place to post this:
had the pleasure of a window seat viewing of United getting my S&S travel bike case airborne onto the conveyor belt last week. good thing i keep a cam buckle strap on the case at all times.
How loud was the THUD when he tossed the case onto the belt?
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
https://i.imgur.com/0cbACfH.jpg
Delta stepping up their game...all that was missing was the smiley face. I also made sure to change my drink preference from H20 to Clamato.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
I’ve spent lots if time in that area!
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
https://i.imgur.com/FPLDQvD.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/DV8qAGK.jpg
Hustling back to PIT from SEA through MSP today in order to make it from our second graduation to the third and last one of the season. The flight crew did a great job escaping this saturated mess and getting us home...it was awfully dark out there when we took off from MSP.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
I just read a book .. The Perfectionists, by Simon Winchester.
excellent read about the evolution of manufacturing from crude to less crude to incredibly microscopically exact.
He cites an example in there that may make you fell less well about flying...
while talking about jet engines.
He cites an Airbus 380 with Rolls Royce engines that, some years ago, had an engine explode ( similar to the 737 that recently had an engine explode causing the death of a passenger ).
The plane had 475 passengers and dozens of crew aboard.. the exploding engine cause much damage to hydraulic systems as well as fire in the engine. Somewhat remarkably the plane was landed safely.
After years of inquiry the cause was found to be a tiny hole drilled in a turbine blade that was minutely at the wrong angle and failed to properly lubricate the engine... causing it to fail where is should have worked. They had to recall these engines .. but, in his analysis, there was indication that the required design required execution that was at the edge of practicality.. very difficult to achieve exactly. Close enough was not good enough.
I cannot remember this incident.. It was years ago... but I do remember seeing one of those planes in Frankfurt… It is a massive plane... far larger than a 747 that was parked next to it..
Believe me... I know air travel is by far the safest way to travel... thinking about it too much is probably not helpful!
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SteveP
I just read a book .. The Perfectionists, by Simon Winchester.
excellent read about the evolution of manufacturing from crude to less crude to incredibly microscopically exact.
He cites an example in there that may make you fell less well about flying...
while talking about jet engines.
He cites an Airbus 380 with Rolls Royce engines that, some years ago, had an engine explode ( similar to the 737 that recently had an engine explode causing the death of a passenger ).
The plane had 475 passengers and dozens of crew aboard.. the exploding engine cause much damage to hydraulic systems as well as fire in the engine. Somewhat remarkably the plane was landed safely.
After years of inquiry the cause was found to be a tiny hole drilled in a turbine blade that was minutely at the wrong angle and failed to properly lubricate the engine... causing it to fail where is should have worked. They had to recall these engines .. but, in his analysis, there was indication that the required design required execution that was at the edge of practicality.. very difficult to achieve exactly. Close enough was not good enough.
I cannot remember this incident.. It was years ago... but I do remember seeing one of those planes in Frankfurt… It is a massive plane... far larger than a 747 that was parked next to it..
Believe me... I know air travel is by far the safest way to travel... thinking about it too much is probably not helpful!
Sounds like a great read, I'll get it, thanks!
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
http://i.imgur.com/ffJroMN.jpg
Approaching the Windy City from the East on an early June morning.
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Re: irrational fear of flyi
RW,
You change planes and locations like I change socks. Not sure that is a good thing or not but great pics as usual.
Mike
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: irrational fear of flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dave Thompson
I’m an unabashed airplane geek ever since I can remember. I’ve flown on everything I possibly could, from a hot-air balloon to the Concorde. In between, a P-51, a B-17 & B-25, float planes and helicopters. Damn near cried when I got bumped from a ride in a TF-106 and a Goodyear blimp. Spent 8 years in the USAF as an aircraft mechanic working and flying with my airplanes.
The pic (of a photo) is of me, wearing my BELL newsie hat, taken at the Monterey airport waiting for the fuel truck after having hauled a load motorcycle enthusiasts to watch the 1973 races. The plane is my Piper Seneca which was pretty nifty and when not carrying passengers would take my wife and I, our luggage and two Honda CT-70 mini bikes most anywhere. Good times!
Adding on to this, the Collings Foundation The Collings Foundation - Preserving Living Aviation History brought their Wings Of Freedom Tour through Spokane this week. A veritable flying circus, they fly their TF-51D, B-25, B-17 and B-24 to airports all around the country. After many years, they’re finally offering flights in their B-24J, the only one in the world still flying. The B-24 has been on my bucket list for a long time, so I had to check that off. I posted a good cockpit video on my Facebook page Facebook (I know,I know but I can’t post videos here)
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Re: irrational fear of flying
What was it like to fly in the B-24? A few years ago there was a huge old war plane flying around and it seemed to move so slow. I assume it was taking people on flights.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chris7ed
What was it like to fly in the B-24? A few years ago there was a huge old war plane flying around and it seemed to move so slow. I assume it was taking people on flights.
WWII bombers were slow with a top speed of only 290mph. Nowadays they fly them around at 180-200mph, tops, to save on wear and tear and keep the 75 year old planes from undue stress.
Flying on the B-24 was exciting of course. It was noisy, like flying in a 55-gallon drum with 4 engines attached and about as comfortable. It was a bomb bay with wings with little room for niceties. In the hour we were up I went all over the ship, from the tail gunners position to the bombardiers in the nose. I spent a majority of my time watching the pilot and co-pilot fly the plane, absolutely fascinating. Talking to them they told me the B-24 is not a stable plane in it’s pitch and yaw axis, it takes constant attention and control inputs to fly it smoothly. They were in awe of the wartime pilots that flew them in tight formations for hours.
I could not help but think of the ‘kids’ that flew in these planes during the war everyday, not knowing if they’d return to base safely, or alive. Many months of that, I can’t comprehend what it took to be that mentally strong.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dave Thompson
WWII bombers were slow with a top speed of only 290mph. Nowadays they fly them around at 180-200mph, tops, to save on wear and tear and keep the 75 year old planes from undue stress.
Flying on the B-24 was exciting of course. It was noisy, like flying in a 55-gallon drum with 4 engines attached and about as comfortable. It was a bomb bay with wings with little room for niceties. In the hour we were up I went all over the ship, from the tail gunners position to the bombardiers in the nose. I spent a majority of my time watching the pilot and co-pilot fly the plane, absolutely fascinating. Talking to them they told me the B-24 is not a stable plane in it’s pitch and yaw axis, it takes constant attention and control inputs to fly it smoothly. They were in awe of the wartime pilots that flew them in tight formations for hours.
I could not help but think of the ‘kids’ that flew in these planes during the war everyday, not knowing if they’d return to base safely, or alive. Many months of that, I can’t comprehend what it took to be that mentally strong.
It is remarkable ... and well stated.. they were kids flying these planes. Heroic in every way.
a flying tin can.
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Re: irrational fear of flying
You two would enjoy the book Flyboys...it's all about the kids that flew those planes and what they experienced in doing so.
BOOKS OF THE TIMES; The Devil's in the Details of a Hellish Account of War - The New York Times