Cub Driver wrote in message . ..
Don't believe ANYTHING you see on TV or in the movies about aviation

In my case, the warning about explosive decompression came from a
BRITISH AIRLINE SECURITY CONSULTANT, speaking on an NPR station. So
clearly the myth extends far beyond Hollywood. This man was presented
as making a living from his special knowledge!


Was that in reference to a stray bullet causing the decompression?
If so, I'd have to agree that he's full of it. Explosive
decompression caused by a larger hole in the pressure vessel (i.e.
small bomb or failure of the structure) can be quite serious.
Remember that 747 that had a big chunk of the skin blow out enroute to
Australia? As I recall, 2 or 3 people were sucked out along with
their seats. Also, at 35K ft. the amount of time until loss of
conciousness is measured in seconds.

I was once enroute on a long X-C near the AZ/NM border when I heard
a TWA flight tell Center that they were in an emergency descent due to
a sudden decompression of the cabin. A few minutes later I watched
the 727 come down to 12K ft. (a few thousand ft. over the mountain
tops) and start a turn east towards Albuquerque. Very strange to see
something that large down at unpressurized GA altitudes.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)