Heathrow Third Runway? Option?

[expat]

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'.

Absolutely: there was no thought for streamlining then. But floats could retract, or indeed be efficient without retracting (and possibly carry wheeled undercarriage inside).

And FFS let's not only have some can-do, but some do-first-and-sell-to-the-world.

[pleomax]

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.

I bet if the third runway was going to be in those areas it would sundenly become not viable!

Hey we do not need green spaces anyway, lets start at dover and cement the whole of Uk over!

[Mich the Tester]

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

Good. The place is full of Merchant Wbankers and oligarchs, so they should empty the plane's bogs as they fly over.

[BrilloPad]

What is wrong with a new airport in the Thames Estuary? They could build a new Thames Barrier while they are at it......

[swamp]

What is wrong with a new airport in the Thames Estuary? They could build a new Thames Barrier while they are at it......

Apart from many other good reasons not to build an airport in the Thames estuary, there are a lot of birds living there, and birds can cause a few problems.

[Mich the Tester]

Apart from many other good reasons not to build an airport in the Thames estuary, there are a lot of birds living there, and birds can cause a few problems.

Especially when they get anywhere near your wallet.

[expat]

Apart from many other good reasons not to build an airport in the Thames estuary, there are a lot of birds living there, and birds can cause a few problems.

Another good reason to reintroduce seaplanes?

[MPwannadecentincome]

Apart from many other good reasons not to build an airport in the Thames estuary, there are a lot of birds living there, and birds can cause a few problems.

Hmmm so flying to Hong Kong is not a good idea then...

[swamp]

As shown, the proposed airport is in the arse end of nowhere.

They are proposing building a couple of tunnels, each looks around the size of the Channel Tunnel!

[Mich the Tester]

As shown, the proposed airport is in the arse end of nowhere.

They are proposing building a couple of tunnels, each looks around the size of the Channel Tunnel!

...and some people think sea planes are inefficient!