Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Musical Wings Reduce Aircraft Stall Risk

Posted by samzenpus on from the fake-plastic-airlines dept.

notwrong writes "The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that a Qantas engineer has found a way to help small aircraft avoid stalling at low speeds: pumping sound through the wings. He found that music also works, having tested Spiderbait and Radiohead (nice choices; Spiderbait apparently works better)."

13 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Other bands to test... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would think that playing the B-52's, U2, Eagles, Foo Fighters, a Flock of Seagulls, or Jefferson Airplane would be more appropriate, then again, who am I to say...

    1. Re:Other bands to test... by FidelCatsro · · Score: 4, Funny

      Lets not try "System of a down " though

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
    2. Re:Other bands to test... by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Funny

      Lynyrd Skynyrd?

      Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing around on a plane kept in the air by a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash.

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  2. Just hope.... by metricmusic · · Score: 5, Funny

    they don't play 'Crash and Burn' by Savage Garden.

    --
    http://www.livejournal.com/users/metricmusic
    1. Re:Just hope.... by irokie · · Score: 3, Funny

      Or, y'know, anything by lynrd skynyrd, buddy holly, richie valenz or the big bopper...

      --
      and if you see me strut, remind me of what left this outlaw torn...
  3. Mr. Qantas aerospace engineer.. by lightyear4 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... you are the wind beneath my wings.

  4. new business model for the RIAA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    From now on, every small aircarft owner must pay royalties to the RIAA. Otherwise RIAAAF rules of engagement will not apply.

  5. I dunno... by darkov · · Score: 4, Funny

    filling wings with rock doesn't seem like such a good idea.

    --
    Reliable, Great Value Hosting: $7.95/mo 2.4G/120G
    1. Re:I dunno... by Generic+Insanity · · Score: 3, Funny

      Better Rock than Heavy Metal.

  6. Next time I go flying by LupeSpywalper · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll bring my air guitar.

  7. Hmm... by YeEntrancemperium · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will the plane explode if you blast some Necrophagist, Psycroptic, or Nile?

  8. Prior art. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    My cousin had a similar idea 20 years ago. We attached bees to a plane's wings and the buzz really helps.

    Besides, with enough bees we could even get VTOL.

    The only problem is making all bees fly in one direction. We are trying to tame them and teach them to act like eskimo dogs, but it's been hard.

    The flower-ahead-of-the-plane trick works for some time, but they get bored real fast. OTOH, when my cousin walks ahead of the plane, they fly it for hours trying to get to him.

    Maybe it's like that duckling thing they made a film about. Oh, it's so cute!

  9. Iron Butterfly by warthog442 · · Score: 4, Funny

    We tried this years ago, but the plane would only stay up for 17 minutes and 2 seconds, wierd...