Heathrow Third Runway? Option?

[Turion]

Large seaplanes are simply not economically viable to construct and run due to the size, weight and drag factor caused by the massive floats. You see, a standard commercial jet, neatly packs aways it's landing gear after take-off. If they were left down, the increased drag factor would double the overal fuel consumption. Floats are way too big to fold away.

[Mich the Tester]

Large seaplanes are simply not economically viable to construct and run due to the size, weight and drag factor caused by the massive floats. You see, a standard commercial jet, neatly packs aways it's landing gear after take-off. If they were left down, the increased drag factor would double the overal fuel consumption. Floats are way too big to fold away.

Another bean counter spoiling the fun. Look mate, banks aren't economically viable, neither are labour governments and neither are social security systems and none of them will get you from the Thames to Lake Tanganyika, but we've had all three for a long time.

[expat]

Large seaplanes are simply not economically viable to construct and run due to the size, weight and drag factor caused by the massive floats. You see, a standard commercial jet, neatly packs aways it's landing gear after take-off. If they were left down, the increased drag factor would double the overal fuel consumption. Floats are way too big to fold away.

a) is that true?
b) bean-counting isn't everything.
c) undercarriage didn't always retract, but they designed stuff that did.

This 2007 article in the Telegraph suggests a come-back.

[Bagpuss]

Does a new runway matter? IIRC heathrow is near some of the biggest sheetholes in London, so it can hardly lower house pirces or make the area any worse.

[tim123]

There are 2million people scratching around with nowt to do.........

would you fly in a plane built by someone with nothing better to do?

tim

[expat]

would you fly in a plane built by someone with nothing better to do?

tim

I think I have .......

[Mich the Tester]

Large seaplanes are simply not economically viable to construct and run due to the size, weight and drag factor caused by the massive floats. You see, a standard commercial jet, neatly packs aways it's landing gear after take-off. If they were left down, the increased drag factor would double the overal fuel consumption. Floats are way too big to fold away.

Are you comparing like for like? The floats on existing seaplanes are based on 60 or 70 year old designs. Quite possibly new designs would be much more efficient. They could also be made to retract if the plane's fuselage is designed to fit them.

Please, let's have a bit more can-do around here. We're techies, not feeble minded managers. The likes of us built the modern world. Managers gave us the pet rock and merchant banking. We're standing on the shoulders of giants like Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Alan Turing and Barnes Wallis. Let's do them justice and stop trying to pretend things are 'too difficult'.

[Moscow Mule]

I've just found a way to eliminate the chav problem & & London's airport expansion issues -

Kill & Dump 2 million chavs in the Thames Estuary and use them as basis for building BoJo's new airport.

Sorted.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Another bean counter spoiling the fun. Look mate, banks aren't economically viable, neither are labour governments and neither are social security systems and none of them will get you from the Thames to Lake Tanganyika, but we've had all three for a long time.

any government.

Does a new runway matter? IIRC heathrow is near some of the biggest sheetholes in London, so it can hardly lower house pirces or make the area any worse.

Biggest sheetholes in the UK surely

would you fly in a plane built by someone with nothing better to do?

tim

All planes are built by someone with nothing better to do.

[Moscow Mule]

Does a new runway matter? IIRC heathrow is near some of the biggest sheetholes in London, so it can hardly lower house pirces or make the area any worse.

Trouble is, those planes will have to fly over Kensington & Chelsea - increasing actually annoyance by a factor of 10* for people who actually matter.






* made up figure. Can't be arsed to look up the real one.