Re:Woman jailed for trying to open the airplane door mid flight
by dannyw on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @10:11AM
(#22309384)
Can you actually open an airplane door mid flight?
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Re:Woman jailed for trying to open the airplane door mid flight
by Someone1234 on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @10:18AM
(#22309438)
At what altitude? At low altitude, it is theoretically possible (although some passenger aircrafts have a lock).
But even then it would still require significant strength, as there would likely be some air differential due to the aircraft's speed/air pressure against the door.
At higher altitudes it is essentially impossible for a human. You'd have to blow apart the door or equivalent.
The biggest thing is the pressure differential. And that varies based on speed/altitude/etc. At normal cruise in a jet aircraft, it just isn't happening.
Re:Woman jailed for trying to open the airplane door mid flight
by Onanymous on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @10:21AM
(#22309472)
I do not get it, sorry. The door opens out, and the pressure is higher inside. So how does the pressure difference prevent opening that door?
Re:Woman jailed for trying to open the airplane door mid flight
by Someone1234 on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @10:28AM
(#22309543)
It isn't intuitive how aircraft doors work, but the door doesn't open "out" in the typical sense. It actually sits against the aircraft's outer hull, the larger the differential the higher pressure exist between the door and the skin of the aircraft.
When the door is opened, it actually slides in then out sideways rather than swings open.
Re:Woman jailed for trying to open the airplane door mid flight
by throwaway55554 on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @10:24AM
(#22309501)
Most doors on aircraft open inward, so think of it like a drain plug where the pressure holds it in place.
Edit: To clarify, they may swing outward, but they open inward first.
Re:Woman jailed for trying to open the airplane door mid flight
by m23khan on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @10:14AM
(#22309403)
nope - atleast not on your typical commercial passenger aircraft after certain height is achieved. The air pressure difference between inside of aircraft and outside makes it impossible.