Why We Lost The Vietnam War

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

Its been done,apparently 747's make excellent submarines

See Airport 77


So how does a 747 with an intact pressure vessel sink?

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
link.net...

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

Its been done,apparently 747's make excellent submarines

See Airport 77


So how does a 747 with an intact pressure vessel sink?



Slowly in a water tank surrounded by cameramen

Keith

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

Slowly in a water tank surrounded by cameramen


Sure, you can do anything in a movie. The "Airport" series got weirder with
each film. I have a 1977-78 edition of Janes ATWA, it gives the volume of
the passenger deck of a basic Model 747 as 27,860 cubic feet. A cubic foot
of water weighs over 62 pounds, so the dry passenger deck is displacing over
1.7 million pounds, which is more than twice the maximum takeoff weight.

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote...

So how does a 747 with an intact pressure vessel sink?

Slowly, via water intake through the outflow valves that are normally open
at/near landing altitude. Depending on how far submerged the fuselage is, the
negative pressure relief valves in the cargo doors could also let in water.

"John R Weiss" wrote in message
news:yAbRb.27146$U%5.180039@attbi_s03...

Slowly, via water intake through the outflow valves that are normally open
at/near landing altitude. Depending on how far submerged the fuselage is,
the negative pressure relief valves in the cargo doors could also let in
water.


In the film, it went down rather quickly, less than 30 seconds as I recall,
and the carpet didn't even get damp.