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From: jrc@ritcv.UUCP (James R Carbin)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: You Want 10,000 ft. Runways for 747's
Message-ID: <721@ritcv.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 31-Oct-83 10:54:41 EST
Article-I.D.: ritcv.721
Posted: Mon Oct 31 10:54:41 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Nov-83 04:38:40 EST
Lines: 61

**********  A very mild flame   -------    only using a candle  **************

I'm not going to get embroiled in the controversy at this time whether or
not there was sufficient justification for the invasion of Grenanda.  But
I do want to set the record straight on the need for a 10,000 foot runway
for a 747.  

Airplanes are strange "creatures."  The lift that is generated by a wing
is dependent upon the density of the atmosphere.  To put it rather simpis-
tically, hot humid air does *not* have as much "lift generating capability"
as does cold dry air.  (For those of you in the Northern climates, note that
commercial jets climb out at out a much shallower angle of ascent on a hot
humid day as they do in the dead of winter.  Every pilot learns about this
phenomenon which is dubbed "density altitude."  Private pilots who never fly