Capt. " (Engines) number one and number two just died! This ship will drop like a stone now."
Actually, an airplane won't "drop like a stone" without engines, it would become a glider. In thin air, it might decend rapidly until it reached denser altitude, but it wouldn't "drop like a stone."
Airplanes are not very effective gliders. They will stay airborne as long as there is enough air speed to allow the wings to generate lift, but this generally means keeping the airplane in a descent and eventually all altitude will be lost.
shareYou have no way of knowing that. I find it weird that anyone would claim to know about how an airplane would drop or not drop.
shareAerodynamic fundamentals. Wings hold aircraft aloft. Engines provide the thrust and airspeed needed to ascend and maintain straight and level flight. Without engines an aircraft becomes a glider, not a "stone". It may decend rapidly, but it remains controllable and, with enough initial altitude and given the terrain, it can be landed safely. Engine-out scenarios are an important part of pilot training. Ask your pilot friends.
shareWhat does your nickname mean?
share[deleted]
As an F-4e Phantom pilot I can tell you that once an aircraft loses power it may glide for a bit but it's much too heavy to glide any appreciable distance. As for the F4E, I had an engine failure over the pine barrens of New Jersey. My back-seater and I punched out and the plane nosed down and did, indeed, drop like a stone. Planes are planes and gliders are gliders and never the twain shall meet.
share