artb@hplsla.HP.COM (Art Bori) (05/10/91)
From alt.folklore.urban: > In article <17459@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM> pastor@PRC.Unisys.COM (Jon Pastor) writes: >I flew from Trenton to Paoli in a DC-10 a few years ago, and a seat-back- >related incident actually occurred on this plane. It seems that most of the >passengers on the right side of the plane had their seat-backs reclined, while >most of the passengers on the left did not. When the plane left the runway, >it almost immediately started banking sharply to the right. It didn't occur >to any of us that there was anything remarkably odd about this until we'd >done a full circle and were still banked. At this point, the PA crackled on >and the co-pilot -- in a firm but obviously frightened voice -- instructed >all passengers to put their seats upright, because the aircraft's center of >gravity was being disturbed. We were surprised that he was able to infer >that this was the cause, and doubtful that he was right, but when we let >our seat-backs pop upright the plane came out of the turn and the flight >proceeded uneventfully. > >The fact that the co-pilot identified reclined seatbacks as the cause without >actually seeing the cabin suggests to me that this is a fairly common occurrence. This reminds me of a trick that a jump pilot once pulled on some relatively new skydivers. On the climb to altitude he talked about how aerodynamically balanced the plane was. He especially emphasized how any change on the outer surface can cause major control variances. To illustrate this he popped open his window and stuck his hand out. By supposedly varying the angle of his hand, the plane would alter its course. What the jumpers didn't realize was that while they were watching his hand, the pilot was playing with the rudder pedals. Needless to say, the other pilots and more experienced jumpers had a good laugh at their naivete. Blue skies ! Art Bori D-11402
kas@hpcvia.CV.HP.COM (ken_scofield) (05/10/91)
From: artb@hplsla.HP.COM (Art Bori) Message-ID: <6730093@hplsla.HP.COM> >From alt.folklore.urban: > >> In article <17459@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM> pastor@PRC.Unisys.COM (Jon Pastor) writes: >> [...story from an incredibly ignorant/gullible/joker person deleted...] >> >>The fact that the co-pilot identified reclined seatbacks as the cause without >>actually seeing the cabin suggests to me that this is a fairly common occurrence. I wonder if this was A) actually done on April Fools day, or B) just posted on April Fools day. Geeze... some people are sooooooo gullible! It does, however, make a good 'party story' for when you want to yank someones' chain. :-) >This reminds me of a trick that a jump pilot once pulled on some relatively >new skydivers. On the climb to altitude he talked about how aerodynamically >balanced the plane was. He especially emphasized how any change on the >outer surface can cause major control variances. To illustrate this he >popped open his window and stuck his hand out. By supposedly varying >the angle of his hand, the plane would alter its course. What the jumpers >didn't realize was that while they were watching his hand, the pilot was >playing with the rudder pedals. Needless to say, the other pilots and >more experienced jumpers had a good laugh at their naivete. I like it! I gotta git my pilot to do this someday. Lessee, I need a good guinea pig or two... Ken Scofield C-9355 SSI #453890085 ^ Hewlett-Packard, ICO Phone: (503)750-2426 |----/-\----| 1020 NE Circle Blvd. (kas@hpcvia.CV.HP.COM) | Gone | Corvallis, OR 97330 (ucbvax!hplabs!hp-pcd!kas) | Divin' or | | Jumpin' | Cute Disclaimer: Nobody ever listened to me before, |-----------| so why start now?
leona@milano.sw.mcc.com (Leona Slepetis) (05/11/91)
In article <6730093@hplsla.HP.COM> artb@hplsla.HP.COM (Art Bori) writes: >This reminds me of a trick that a jump pilot once pulled on some relatively >new skydivers. On the climb to altitude he talked about how aerodynamically A certain poster to this group who shall remain nameless has a favorite trick he pulls on jump pilots. When he's in the forward position in a 182 with his back to the panel, he'll nudge the trim wheel down bit by bit with his elbow while making pretend that he's snoozing. He gets a kick out of watching the pilot's increasing efforts to keep the nose up until he figures out what's going on. -- slepetis@mcc.com
dr25+@andrew.cmu.edu (Danny A. Rossi) (05/11/91)
When a close friend of mine started skydiving, some of the more experienced skydiviers told her that if she punched a cloud, she could roll over and see her body print in the cloud when she came out the bottom. She believed them until they told her that sometimes, if you hit a real dense cloud you would have to ru n along it and jump off to get back in free fall. That's almost as good as the time I convinced some students that I was going to be there pilot. They believed me even though I walked out to the plane with my white cane in hand. They actually started to get in the plane when the real pilot fell apart laughing. Dan Rossi B-#14030 Flare when you hear the crickets.
ds4a@dalton.acc.Virginia.EDU (Dale Southard) (05/12/91)
The "Wednesday night trick" at my old DZ was to turn off the engine and then leave with the keys. Hasn't been done for MANY years. I guess it was done so often for a while that some of the pilots actually kept a spare key on a string around their necks. I wouldn't do it, but your judgement/sense of humor may differ.... But my personal favorite... Dirt dive a 4-way. When you get to altitude, have the first jumper climb out onto the strut. Then close the door and watch him/her. Nothing beats the look of frustation on a jumper about to do a solo 45 sec delay. Note that after the victim lets go you can go around and do the 3-way that you had previously dirt-dived. A great way to give someone a humbling experience. The real masters will be able to get back on the step so that they can press their nose against the window while they shout big expletives. --> --> Dale UVa (ds4a@virginia.edu)
whalen@starch.enet.dec.com (05/13/91)
I have a hard time believing the story about the DC-10, but it does make a difference in a Cessna 182. If the pilot trims the plane for the desires attitude and someone changes position, I've had the pilot comment about the need to re-trim. This is especially noticable with the person all the way back in the cabin if they change from back against the wall (facing forward) to feet against the wall (facing backwards). ------------------------------------------------------ Rich Whalen You don't know where these bits have been!