On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 at 22:02:30 in message
, Kyle Boatright
wrote:

Agree with your L/D vs glide range comment. My point went to the idea that
an airliner's sink rate is low enough that even with a complete flame out
(unless the airplane was already at very low altitude), there should be
plenty of time to get off a Mayday call and possibly relate the basics of
the problem to a controller.

In Macarthur Job's book where he describes the events when the BA 747
lost all 4 engines near Java he says that with all engines stopped at
37,000 feet the aircraft should take 23 minutes to sea level.

That certainly reinforces your point! It also suggests a 1600 ft/minute
descent rate. If the speed was 250k then, if I am right, it also implies
a glide L/D of around 15.

Airliners are _not_ bricks! :-)
--
David CL Francis