# How do things like airplanes just disappear? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [June 1, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601 "2009-06-01T13:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/21 "2009-06-01T13:30:18Z")
someone didn’t press the button in the hatch. Fucking Desmond. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/22 "2009-06-01T13:33:54Z")
Jack Lelane is still alive isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/23 "2009-06-01T13:34:34Z")
> [@ILC](#): > > I disagree with the statement “IF they packed planes with every type of safety device they wouldn’t take off” > > They would take off, most planes are very overpowered for their applications. I think the larger problem is the amount of money it costs to transport an extra 1000lbs of shit around. Additionally this isn’t just one flight for commercial flights its 2 a day… what you fail to take into account…there is a lot more “Behind the scenes” engineering to almost everything. Without dragging into a huge long post…use your imagination for even the simplest of things. Scenerio, add a Parachute. 1.) Obviously, you have the added weight of a parachute and need to mount it. 2.) Mounting point of parachute needs to be heavily reinforced to withstand forces or the cabin seperates from the rest of the plane 3.) Lets say the mounting point reinforcemnts interfere with valuable fuel cell capacity. 4.) Additional hardware/fittings/hydraulics needed to allow the cabin to seperate from the wings/cargo area 4.) fuel cell needs to be redesigned slightly or wings need to be lenthened to accomidate the loss of space 5.) As a result, larger engines may be required In the end, you get a Boeing 777 with the cargo/passanger capacity of a 747, but now you have a parachute. Also, your $200 ticket to vegas, now costs $700. The increase in fares discourages anybody from flying and the plane never leaves the ground. In this case, the parachute system works as the plane sits on a conveyor and will never take off. Basically…the addition of something that seems very “simple” to a non-engineer actually triggers a domino effect of problems that trail behind. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/24 "2009-06-01T13:38:52Z")
> [@MOBOOST4U](#): > > I would have swan dove out of that shit from exactly one hundred ft before impact, and then promptly swim like Michael Phelps all the way to Paris just in time for my scheduled tour at the Louvre. lol. it doesn’t work like that. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/25 "2009-06-01T13:40:18Z")
for the record, i 100% agree that things like “location of a lost plane” can be rectified, but not so easily as most would think. ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/26 "2009-06-01T13:42:10Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > The story I read said it likely got hit by lightning and had catastrophic electrical failure…i bet it killed all that shit. > [@Fry](#): > > Not to mention it’s really hard to protect electronics from a direct lightning strike. Just plain old not having the technology is also a factory. > [@ILC](#): > > 🤓 lightning travels through the skin of the aircraft, electronics typically aren’t effected. We’ve been hit by lightning while landing and it blew the tail clean off the aircraft, other than UHF antenna blowing off nothing was effected electronically SEE: Faraday Cage > **[Faraday cage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage)** > > A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure used to block some electromagnetic fields. A Faraday shield may be formed by a continuous covering of conductive material, or in the case of a Faraday cage, by a mesh of such materials. Faraday cages are named after scientist Michael Faraday, who first constructed one in 1836. > Faraday cages work because an external electrical field will cause the electric charges within the cage's conducting material to be distributed in a way that cancels out the... ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/27 "2009-06-01T13:42:41Z")
^ You keep going back to the parachute, stop. I understand from an engineering and aviation standpoint why it’s cost prohibitive. The EPIRB on the other hand, not so much, especially if you’re willing to toss out the need for it to work in anything but a water crash. I’m fine with that. Like I said, the big cloud of smoke going a couple miles into the sky is good enough for ground crashes. So much for my idea to patent something and make some cashs of the country’s knee jerk reactions to any type of tragedy. [http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Drs-Technologies-Inc-458682.html](http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Drs-Technologies-Inc-458682.html) ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/28 "2009-06-01T13:43:15Z")
see: birdcage. ---
**Author:** ![ILC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ilc/32/5337_2.png) [@ILC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILC)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/29 "2009-06-01T13:43:41Z")
> [@LAFENGAS](#): > > what you fail to take into account…there is a lot more “Behind the scenes” engineering to almost everything. Without dragging into a huge long post…use your imagination for even the simplest of things. > > Scenerio, add a Parachute. > > 1.) Obviously, you have the added weight of a parachute and need to mount it. > 2.) Mounting point of parachute needs to be heavily reinforced to withstand forces or the cabin seperates from the rest of the plane > 3.) Lets say the mounting point reinforcemnts interfere with valuable fuel cell capacity. > 4.) Additional hardware/fittings/hydraulics needed to allow the cabin to seperate from the wings/cargo area > 4.) fuel cell needs to be redesigned slightly or wings need to be lenthened to accomidate the loss of space > 5.) As a result, larger engines may be required > > Also, your $200 ticket to vegas, now costs $700. The increase in fares discourages anybody from flying and the plane never leaves the ground. In this case, the parachute system works as the plane sits on a conveyor and will never take off. > > Basically…the addition of something that seems very “simple” to a non-engineer actually triggers a domino effect of problems that trail behind. In the end, you get a Boeing 777 with the cargo/passanger capacity of a 747, but now you have a parachute. O certainly if you use a parachute there is a ton more weight… probably another 20,000lbs of weight, but other small safety equipment IE cold weather parka’s for everyone on the plane incase of landing in alaskan wilderness wouldn’t be much more weight… but yea. with a flight from vegas to buffalo with 20,000lbs worth of necessary parachute shit. 10,000-15000lbs of fuel will have to be added to the air craft. which is about another 5000 dollars of fuel for a 100 passenger flight edit: I still feel its not an engineering problem that the plane actually couldn’t fly… but more of a money factor carrying more weight… Example. KC-135R = 130,000lb plane (boeing 707 airframe), its a refueling aircraft. filled to the brim with fuel it can hold 232,000lbs of fuel. There is no way you could fill up that cargo compartment or add on enough safety features to even equal 200K lbs. obviously the primary function of this air craft is to carry fuel its capacity would be greatly decreased. and the 232klb limiting factor is that it just doesn’t have more room in the tanks to carry the fuel. ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/30 "2009-06-01T13:44:05Z")
> [@LAFENGAS](#): > > see: birdcage. ---
**Author:** ![ILC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ilc/32/5337_2.png) [@ILC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILC)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/31 "2009-06-01T13:44:58Z")
> [@Geehee](#): > > SEE: Faraday Cage > > [Faraday cage - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) I’m not sure why I’m being quoted… as i know already the skin/ribs and spars act as a faraday cage. ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/32 "2009-06-01T13:46:12Z")
> [@ILC](#): > > I’m not sure why I’m being quoted… as i know already the skin/ribs and spars act as a faraday cage. I was just backing you up. ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/33 "2009-06-01T13:47:37Z")
> [@Blue Eyed Devil](#): > > If the black box is indestructable why don’t they just build the whole plane out of the same material?.. And build ships out of concrete so there is never a puncture and spill! ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/34 "2009-06-01T13:47:37Z")
that pic rules. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/35 "2009-06-01T13:47:40Z")
> [@Geehee](#): > I don’t care how much faith I had in the science of that, I’d still need a change of underwear if I was that guy. ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/36 "2009-06-01T13:48:34Z")
From someone who did aircraft electronics for many years… they are all designed to either functionally survive or not cause the aircraft to crash survive… even a direct hit to the aircraft will not damage the critical electronics enough to down the aircraft… Now if they got hit in such a way where it caused the fuel system or structural system to have issues; that’s another story. All aircraft have the Emergency Beacons… it’s just as someone said… they don’t work great 10000’ underwater… nothing really does. They have a radar “spot” where it was last spotted; but going from 40K+ to 10K- in elevation can move you around a few hundred miles with the ocean current I’d imagine. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/37 "2009-06-01T13:48:54Z")
> [@Geehee](#): > i totally thought nobody would get it. ![http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2897583256_0c7fa7d703.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/5/4/544f79eaf422c20248de50fe2566b200b7528922.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/38 "2009-06-01T13:49:55Z")
pic is blocked at work… ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/39 "2009-06-01T13:50:36Z")
> [@newman](#): > > lol. it doesn’t work like that. You’re right, Michael Phelps wouldn’t have half the lung capacity to make that journey now that he smokes pot :mamoru:… > [@JayS](#): > > I don’t care how much faith I had in the science of that, I’d still need a change of underwear if I was that guy. Im sure they used a small puppy to test it first 😉 … ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601/40 "2009-06-01T13:50:53Z")
> [@Geehee](#): > > pic is blocked at work… VERY similar to what you posted. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-things-like-airplanes-just-disappear/68601.md?page=3)