Post: #1

I was on an Airbus A380 equipped with live cameras you can view during the flight. I though it'd be cool to view the landing at Dulles from the tail camera on my monitor. It looked like this:



There was a storm with a bit of wind but it didn't seem bad. Well when we approached the runway, I noticed the airplane wasn't approaching straight, but at an angle. So I'm watching the plane approach crooked and thinking if that's even possible, looking around at other passengers who weren't seeing what I was seeing. Apparently it's somewhat common, but not the safest way to land:





I didn't even know planes could do that. The landing was rougher than normal but it worked out fine, in spite of the massive size of the 380.

Post: #2

I had once a cover plate fly off the wing. I called over the stewardess, who then called the pilot, who then sent the copilot all asking me to 'be cool' and 'what happened?'.
Turned out to be just a panel, but when the pilot asks you to stay frosty is not quite settling. After it turned out nothing serious I asked them to provide me with some wine from first class. . . and it worked. Ha!. Did help to steady the nerves. Also, free wine.

Another memorable one was flying in Aeroflot trying a landing in who knows where . . .Georgia? tashkent? the guys just slammed the bird down, bouncing a few times. Passengers clapped when we finally stopped.

Post: #3

in moving water
You can't cross a river going straight across.
You have to angle up stream to keep a straight course.


That being said..I find smaller plane worse to fly in.

big plane are almost to big to fail..they will generate lift and not get tossed around.
computers will do most of the heavy work anyway.

small personal planes get tossed around the clouds and us up to the pilot to make all the corrections.
the drops on small plane throw me off and make my stomach jump.

if anyone has ever been up on a little plane like a Cessna 182..You understand why want to jump out of them...those things are held together with elmers glue and masking tape.

some people have mentioned seeing big airlines use take to repair planes.
a special duct tape is actually commonly used for minor plane repairs.

a dudes plane was chewed up by a bear and he tapped it together and flew home.

Post: #4

(04-21-2014 12:56 AM)Roosh Wrote:  There was a storm with a bit of wind but it didn't seem bad. Well when we approached the runway, I noticed the airplane wasn't approaching straight, but at an angle. So I'm watching the plane approach crooked and thinking if that's even possible, looking around at other passengers who weren't seeing what I was seeing. Apparently it's somewhat common, but not the safest way to land:

It may be unsettling to watch but it's normal. Keep in mind that are are strict limits to the amount of crosswind that can be present to allow a landing. The Airbus 380 has some of the best avionics (the sensors and electronics flying the plane) available. As sourcecode said, you haven't lived until you try to land a small, light, single engine aircraft in a strong crosswind.

Post: #5

Landing in Phnom Penh was one hell of an experience.

Post: #6

Landed like the vid in Roosh's post while sitting the rearmost row of a 777 once at Ohare. Tail swung side to side pretty good and being so far behind the wheels it was really noticeable in back row.

Freaked me the fuck out but then it settled down quick.

Post: #7

Watched the series premier of Lost the night before I flew to Seattle.

It was snowing on the runway when we landed.

Freaked me out a little bit.

Post: #8

I was flying out of Dubai with Emirates about five years ago sat in a window seat, and as the plane was climbing I was looking out the window when the plane suddenly dropped about fifty feet then carried on climbing. Must have hit an air pocket. My brother absolutely shit himself. Good times.

On a separate note, my brother used to work as cabin crew for Emirates and he used to pretend to shit himself every time the plane hit a bit of turbulence to fuck with the passengers. I thought that was very reassuring of him.

Post: #9

I'm already sketchy feeling when flying... I dont need no part or this thread.

Post: #10

I've had two experiences that were pretty...I guess profound is the right word. The thought went through my head, "This could be. I could be a statistic."

Both times I was shocked the captain was saying what he was to the cabin. This was maybe 8 years ago and these incidents were about a year apart.

The first time I was flying into Burbank during Santa Ana winds. We made one landing attempt but got blown off and pulled back up. Happened a second time. It was bumpy as hell and people around me started freaking out, some of them praying.

The captain made the decision to divert to LAX. On the way there he announced, "Folks, ground conditions at Burbank are looking a little rough for us, and normally we could give this another go but we're, ah, starting to get a little low on fuel, so we're going to try our luck at LAX."

As he made the approach the engines cut really low, barely above a hum, and he was going straight into the headwind, so it gave the impression that the plane was barely moving. We were there above the water, almost hovering, on a bumpy ass approach. By this time some people were crying and more people were praying. I actually meditated to stay calm. Even the stewardesses looked distressed.

Obviously we made it and it was a relief like no other, let me tell you.

The second time was also flying into Burbank I think...might have been LAX. We start descending but we don't make the approach to land. We're flying around the airport and people are looking confused. Finally the captain chimes in, "Folks, sorry for the delay. We got ah...well, the thing is, from our instrument panel it's telling us that the landing gear won't deploy. Now before you worry that could just mean the landing gear is down but the sensor won't pick it up, so we're doing a few flybys to see if the ground crew can confirm the gear is down." Same reaction, people crying, praying, saying "Oh God, Oh God..." looking sick.

I've heard other people with similar landing-gear stories. Either it's not a rare occurrence or the airport was busy and this is standard practice for captains to fuck with us and kill time.

Post: #11

(04-21-2014 12:30 PM)Marmite Wrote:  On a separate note, my brother used to work as cabin crew for Emirates and he used to pretend to shit himself every time the plane hit a bit of turbulence to fuck with the passengers. I thought that was very reassuring of him.

That's one hell of a practical joke. Can't imagine anything worse.
But goddamn it must be hilarious.
Would love to see some prank videos on youtube about this.

Post: #12

This is what happens when that fat feminazi broad moves to the rear of the plane during takeoff.

Post: #13

(04-21-2014 12:56 AM)Roosh Wrote:  I was on an Airbus A380 equipped with live cameras you can view during the flight. I though it'd be cool to view the landing at Dulles from the tail camera on my monitor. It looked like this:



There was a storm with a bit of wind but it didn't seem bad. Well when we approached the runway, I noticed the airplane wasn't approaching straight, but at an angle. So I'm watching the plane approach crooked and thinking if that's even possible, looking around at other passengers who weren't seeing what I was seeing. Apparently it's somewhat common, but not the safest way to land:





I didn't even know planes could do that. The landing was rougher than normal but it worked out fine, in spite of the massive size of the 380.

Yeah, it's called 'crabbing'. They basically angle the plane to use part of the plane's thrust to counteract the crosswind to stop it from being blown off course. So the forward-component of the thrust moves the plane forward, while the perpendicular component balances the cross-wind.



Must be a hell of an experience to see it in real-time while you're inside the plane though!

My scary moment was this. Was a long time I ago, I was a kid about 12 years old. We are accelerating down the runway, and just as I thought we are about to take off, the captain hits the breaks hard and we abort take-off. They told us it was an instrument malfunction, nothing to worry about but gave no details. About an hour later they say they fixed it, while we are still on the plane, and then we take off again on the same plane. Was shitting myself this time. Was fine though.

Generally I love a bit of turbulence, and watching all the people freak out a little bit.

Post: #14

(04-21-2014 05:29 PM)Hotwheels Wrote:  This is what happens when that fat feminazi broad moves to the rear of the plane during takeoff.

Had to look that one up:

Quote:On 2 June 2013, investigators confirmed the load shift hypothesis; three armoured vehicles and two mine sweepers came loose and rolled backwards onto the rear bulkhead, damaging the aircraft and pushing the center of gravity outside its rear limit. Consequently, the aircraft became uncontrollable, pitched up sharply and stalled, and crashed moments later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ai...Flight_102

Post: #15

I've flown 150,000+ miles annually in the past few years, but I haven't really experienced anything like some of the stuff in this thread... Guess I'm lucky or maybe it's because I'm usually sleeping during the landings? Did see lightning hit the plane a few times, but I'm told that that's actually quite common.

Post: #16

^^^ Never knew it was called crabbing. This is the most extreme example I've seen. He landed at a 45 degree angle to the right. Very good pilot!





This is one of my favorite youtube videos of all time:

Post: #17

I have felt it several times during landing, but watching the plane you are in land from an outside camera had to be a little freaky.

Post: #18

Yea, I've had some pretty bad ones. Which is why I always tell the captain when we're disembarking "great landing!" etc. One time had a stewardess try to take credit for the smooth landing right in front of the captain. Typical.

Post: #19

About 20 years ago when I was in the US Air Force Reserves we did a summer deployment to S. Korea. On the way back across the Pacific to the US in a KC-135, I was awakened by the crew scurrying around looking out the windows. They told us that a part had broken and we were diverting to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. As the aircraft descended, it suddenly started bumping around all over the place. My fellow reservists and I were looking at each other like, "WTF!?" The plane slammed into the runway like a block of cement (I wonder if they blew some tires), then braked to a sudden stop in the middle of the runway and completely shut down, including the APU. Emergency vehicles pulled up to the plane with their lights flashing.

We evacuated the aircraft right there on the runway and then I noticed that there was a waterfall of fluid cascading from the plane (I don't remember if it was coming out of the wing or the tail). One of the aircrew was standing near me and I asked him, "Why didn't you tell us that the plane was losing hydraulics?" and he replied, "We didn't want you guys to panic."

This or this is the kind of thing that can happen when an aircraft loses its hydraulics.

Post: #20

The pilot was buzzed and myself and the four other passengers (all hot girls) were unaware. We were in a 6-7 passenger private plane headed to Vegas from LA, around a 50 minute flight. Can't remember which type of plane. The plane was dipping and bouncing around like a fat girl on roller skates. I truly thought I was going to die and took a video on my phone saying my final goodbyes to my family. The girls were in tears and the final thought I had was, “at least I’m dying in a private plane with four hot chicks. What a way to go out!” I had a bottle of Goose in my travel bag, so I took it out and started chugging. I figured it would calm me down.

Obviously, we didn’t crash and the pilot emergency landed at a small airport halfway to our destination. Looking back, was one of the best moments of my life. Complete clarity.

After that experience, when flying commercial nothing gets me riled up, besides the clusterfuck cramped seating and the bullshit extra baggage fees. Fuck you Spirit Air!

Post: #21

its just how cross wind landings look.

(04-21-2014 12:56 AM)Roosh Wrote:  I was on an Airbus A380 equipped with live cameras you can view during the flight. I though it'd be cool to view the landing at Dulles from the tail camera on my monitor. It looked like this:



There was a storm with a bit of wind but it didn't seem bad. Well when we approached the runway, I noticed the airplane wasn't approaching straight, but at an angle. So I'm watching the plane approach crooked and thinking if that's even possible, looking around at other passengers who weren't seeing what I was seeing. Apparently it's somewhat common, but not the safest way to land:





I didn't even know planes could do that. The landing was rougher than normal but it worked out fine, in spite of the massive size of the 380.

Post: #22

I was heading home after the Christmas holidays a few years back, and had a flight from LAX to Honolulu, an hour into the flight, this 300lb middle-aged white dude, drunk (or high) and agitated, gets up and starts shouting at the flight attendants because he wasn't upgraded to first-class. He started pounding on the cockpit door, and then turns around and charges down the aisles yelling. He was out of control. People were shitting in their pants. Myself and 2 other dudes grab him in the back of the plane and hold him down, and try to calm him. After about 10 minutes or so he calms down a bit. The flight already turned back towards LAX, and when we landed a bunch of officers storm the plane and arrest his fat ass. A supposed 5 hour flight turns into almost 10 hours of travel because of a drunk fat white trash pos.

Post: #23

The chances are extremely low of dying in a plane crash. You are like 1,000 times more likely to die in a car crash.

Look it up.

I estimated that my chances of dying if I flew 300 flights in my lifetime, to be about 1 in 15,000.

But 1 in 8 people die in cars I believe.

I started trying to just enjoy the plane flight. Now I am just like "this is cool, flying is. Even when there is turbulence". Plus, your change of painful long death is much less in a plane then a car anyhow.

Post: #24

(04-22-2014 07:04 PM)kavakid Wrote:  The chances are extremely low of dying in a plane crash. You are like 1,000 times more likely to die in a car crash.

Look it up.

I estimated that my chances of dying if I flew 300 flights in my lifetime, to be about 1 in 15,000.

But 1 in 8 people die in cars I believe.

I started trying to just enjoy the plane flight. Now I am just like "this is cool, flying is. Even when there is turbulence". Plus, your change of painful long death is much less in a plane then a car anyhow.

??

Post: #25

Here are a few more stories:

I was on a flight from Narita to Honolulu. The captain announced on the PA that there was possible turbulence ahead and to stay in our seats with seatbelts fastened. The crew went ahead with dinner service. About 30 minutes later as I was eating the plane went up and down fairly violently and people (mainly women) started screaming. My glass of red wine went all over my lap. A Korean lady was standing up in the aisle nearby for some reason with her baby and they hit the floor fairly hard, but both were ok. Three people were taken to the hospital when we landed. I believe one fight attendant had a fractured ankle. The only reason I know that is because the incident was in the local newspaper the next day.

Once while landing at Narita the 777 I was on hit some severe winds. The plane was really rocking. The overhead compartments started busting open and a few pieces of luggage fell out. Everyone kept their cool on that one, though. No panic.

On a Southwest flight in the US as the plane was on final approach some woman suddenly got up and casually strolled back to the bathroom. The flight attendant jumped up and told her to get back in her seat, and she refused! She told the flight attendant to take a hike. The flight attendant (a woman) squared up and I thought they were going to throw down. At that moment the plane hit the runway and lurched and both of them almost fell down. The passenger quickly took a nearby, open seat. Once the plane parked the passenger quickly apologized to the attendant and the attendant let her go. I think the doofus wasn't aware how close the plane was to landing when she got up. I think she apologized to try to avoid being arrested, which apparently worked. I wonder if a man would have been let off with an apology?

Twice I've been on aircraft which aborted their take-offs during the take-off roll and slammed the brakes to keep from running off the end of the runway. On one occasion, at LAX, I looked around the cabin with a look like, "Did anyone else just notice what happened?" No one else in the cabin appeared to be the least bit aware that anything untoward had taken place. When I told a guy sitting near me that the plane had just aborted its take off, he looked startled, looked around and said, "Oh, I guess we aren't in the air yet."

That incident, plus the Southwest incident, has led me to believe that most people are clueless when it comes to air travel. They have no idea how air travel really works or what is going on around them when they are flying.