Want to fly in formation - in an airliner?

[Ghery]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1166629&page=1

Ought to be some interesting photos out of airliner windows if this were ever legalized...

 

[Dave Krall CFII]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1166629&page=1

Ought to be some interesting photos out of airliner windows if this were ever legalized...

Why mess around with that, it sounds dangerous and not that much fuel savings.
Just tow one or two airliners like gliders.
Probably don't need to start the engines at all.
Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

[EdFred]

Why mess around with that, it sounds dangerous and not that much fuel savings.
Just tow one or two airliners like gliders.
Probably don't need to start the engines at all.
Yeah, that's the ticket.

You know....Sky Trailers might not be such a bad idea. Increased payload and all.

 

[fgcason]

New York Approach, Swahili Air 594, flight of 37, level 5000, destination LGA.

 

[gismo]

You know....Sky Trailers might not be such a bad idea. Increased payload and all.

Plus, if they kept secret which flight actually had engines, it would be a terrorist deterent. They could storm the cockpit and have maybe a one in ten chance that they could do any more than wag the tail of the plane in front!

But one thing puzzles me about this whole idea (formations or trains). How often do we have multiple planes belonging to the same airline flying the same route at the same time?

 

[astanley]

Plus, if they kept secret which flight actually had engines, it would be a terrorist deterent. They could storm the cockpit and have maybe a one in ten chance that they could do any more than wag the tail of the plane in front!

But one thing puzzles me about this whole idea (formations or trains). How often do we have multiple planes belonging to the same airline flying the same route at the same time?

Lance, I imagine you could space transoceanic flights such that they could take advantage of this during their ocean crossing, but you would have to set them up in trail during the last hour of flight. Would be interesting, at least.

Cheers,

-Andrew