Hello,

I am not an airline pilot, however I know a wee bit about flying airliners since I can take off and land the airliners in Microsoft flight simulator which seems to be quite realistic and fun. Of course there's a huge difference between realworld and simulated.

But today I just wanted to ask about a couple hare-brained ideas I had and wondered if they could potentially be added to airliners.

I saw this cargo ship being pulled by a massive parasail here:

http://io9.com/376607/gigantic-cargo...g-cargo-fleets

and it made me think what if it were possible to add some kind of parachute or paraglider to a jet aircraft in the event of engine failure. Would something like this be possible? It would be relatively lightweight and perhaps added to the fuselage so if the engines failed the pilots could deploy a giant chute and the plane could slowly descend straight down to
safety. Or maybe they could even get some kind of steering capability from a paraglider style if it were large enough. Just wondered what your thoughts might be. Perhaps the idea is out of the question but what do you all think?

The other thing was would it be beneficial and safe to use hydrogen or helium or other lightweight gas like the zeppelins used to use today in jet aircraft in a chamber somewhere on the aircraft to add lifting power? Perhaps it could give gliding capability to a jet or if not then a reduction in the amount of fuel needed to fly due to the lifting power of the gas.

Despite the famous zeppelin crash there is a company in Germany that still flys them and has a 100% safety record according to what I heard.


http://www.zeppelinflug.de

Al

 

This is a joke, right?

 

I think it is...

1. MS flight sim is not realistic
2. No, a 'paraglider' would not work on a jetliner
3. Why would it even be considered, how many accidents have occurred in airliners due to all engine failures? Maybe a few at best?
4. Are you on crack?

 

I really don't have anything to say here that is good, but I do agree with Diver and my protige' POPA

 

The engines on an airliner arent what make it fly, they just provide thrust. at altitude, an airline has gravity to provide its forward momentum in the event of an engine failure, and the wings still work so basically its a glider. therefore, the weight and complexity of a parachute or similar device would be unessesary as its completly useless. and no, flight sim and real life arent as similar as you might think.

 

Depending on the volume displaced, one could make 200 pounds of He float (rise) or sink.

 

With the right hardware, it is a lot more realistic than a Frasca 142 and 242...

And I don't mean graphic wise, I mean actual stick and rudder IFR flight feel wise.

 

SR22 cant manage to do it without breaking someone's legs so I'd imagine 3/4 million put aircraft would drop like a rock after ripping the shoot to pieces because it was deployed while doing .7 mach

 

1. If you can fly microsoft flight simulator, and you are really really good, you should let the flight crew know when you fly on an airliner so you can come to assist incase there is an emergency.

2. We have not tried the glider idea yet on airliners because engineerers also work for the oil companies. If one engine were to stop working, the airplane will save a little fuel on the way to the destination. But if both engines were to stop working the plane wouldnt need that fuel in the first place!

3. We tried the filling airliners with helium years ago to decrease the total weight, but the air traffic controllers complained that they could not tell the difference between anyone's voices on the radio since we all sounded like Elmo and Alvin and the Chimpmunks.

You have a real good head on your shoulders, dont let the other people in here make fun of you. Infact all inventions to date were created by someone who was looked at by other people as "nuts".

Do you know where Florida is? You should head down to the Kennedy Space Center near Cocoa Beach. Knock on the front door and ask for Buzz or Neil. You'll know what to do after that.

 

Dear Al,

Please do not let these seemingly sarcastic responses diminish your desire to post again.

It has been enjoyable to read.

11Fan