From davidwin@TDS.net Sat Feb 14 08:09:21 2009
Subject:Re: Buffalo NY Plane Crash

jake92028 wrote:
>
> Yep, when your car quits, you have the option of pulling over to the
> side of the road. When the jet engines on an airliner quit, you're
> going straight down DOA. I won't fly in anything that isn't happy to
> glide/fly for several miles in good weather.

Actually, a 747 has a 15 to 1 glide slope. From an altitude
of 35,000 ft. that plane can glide without engines for
almost 100 miles. I don't know what the speed would be at
optimum glide slope, over 100 I would think, the pilot might
have 40 minutes or so. With any luck, that should get him to
a suitable landing site (something better than the Hudson
river).

> My dad and three of his friends owned 1/4 share each in a piper cub
> at a central California rural airport. One day he took me for a ride
> and when were were a few miles from the airport and about 3000 ft
> high, he deliberately turned off the engine and glided around for
> awhile - a great feeling and silent except for some light wind noise.
> Then we headed back to the airport and he turned the engine back on
> and we made a nice landing.
>
> Ever since then that's my rule: I don't 'fly' unless the plane will.
> I made a couple of exceptions to go to a gig in Hawaii, but I checked
> out the planes available, found out which ones would glide with no
> power and made my trip in the daytime.

All but a few fighter planes will glide.

> Now I figure that was still just lucky and I don't fly at all,
> even if it means a gig. If the distance is reasonable, I'll
> leave early and drive.
>
> Wj

Chance of being killed in an airliner: 1 in 11 million.
chance of being killed in an auto accident: 1 in 5000.
That makes the plane more than 2 thousand times safer.

Dave