Why Didn't The First Guy Who Tried To Enter The Plane...
...have a parachute?
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MovieChat Forums > Airport 1975 (1974) Discussion > Why Didn't The First Guy Who Tried To En...
I wondered that too. In real life IF they were to attempt something so risky, I'm sure the rescuer would demand a parachute, wouldn't you? Lol
shareI'm thinking that a rescuer wearing a chute who had to deploy it if something went wrong while being lowered by cable during a rescue in the movie's scenario (both the rescue copter and jet aircraft flying even just above stall speed would be going over 100+ knots) would probably have a high risk of the chute not deploying correctly or being ripped from his body. From what I understand most parachute jumps are done from propeller-driven aircraft flying around 80mph. Pilots who eject from fighter jets are slowed way down by rockets mounted on their ejector seat so when the chute opens it's done while at a much safer slower speed (and away from the jet). Even if this movie rescuer had gotten inside the airliner and then somehow had to parachute out into the 100+ knt airstream it would be just as dangerous for him. That's why ejector seats came into being, because pilots would have probably faced very high risk of death trying to bail out from even a "slow" moving jet without something like a rocket firing to get them away from the plane and counteract the airspeed they would have been going when trying to deploy a chute.
shareI think there's actually a line where Chuck Heston is told that he can't be given a parachute because if something went wrong in deploying it, he could get "pulled up into the blades" of the copter.
"I'm the only person here I've never heard of" - Charity Hope Valentine, SWEET CHARITY
There's a reason why skydivers don't use helicopters.
shareNo, ejection seats do not have extra rockers to "slow down" the seat, only a set to accelerate away from the aircraft.
To slow down, there are aerodynamic aids in the form of either panels that pop out and/or a small pilot chute that can take the shock of a high speed opening and then allow the main chute to open after the pilot separates from the seat. Air resistance and gravity do the work, not more rockets.
If the plot always makes sense at the movies we'd be watching real life and who would pay for that?
shareWearing a parachute may have been too bulky when trying to enter the damaged aircraft. Just a guess.
shareThe 'other' safer option of a mid air transfer would have been if they had opened the crew boarding hatch on the side of the plane behind the cockpit. The plane was already depressurised and there would have been no ripped shards of metal to injure the boarding pilot.
"I'm not really me. Thats me there- that pile of albino mouse droppings!"
Just watched it this evening for the first time in years. My instant question was just that. Why didn't they open a perfectly servicable door to let the pilot just step in safely with no mess, clutter or debris.
Of course, the rest of the plot was far more plausible!!!!
Interesting point.
shareHmm had not thought of that. I was wondering just like others here about why he didnt have a parachute as well. Some comments make more sense on here.
I also always wondered why everyone and everything was not sucked out of the cockpit upon impact. Later I wondered how Karen Black could be in there without being sucked out but now that you mentioned depressurization that makes sense too.
Ed NElson was the actor who played the guy who was trying to get into the plane and then sucked out. Such a short small role for him as well. I had forgotten he was in the movie and I had just met him in person this past September here where I'm from at a Western Film Festival. I believe he is 83 now. I talked to him for a bit but mostly about Peyton Place. I knew I Had seen him in lots of things but just couldnt remember what. He guest starred on lots of shows.
Depressurisation only takes as long as it needs for the interior and exterior air pressure to equalise. Though the plane was well below 20,000' at the time of impact, hence why they could all still breath. The higher the altitude the longer depressurisation will take, and the more likely the craft would break up due to the increased pressure around the breach during said action.
Though the air temperature would have been below (if not considerably below) freezing, so the idea that anyone would have the dexterity in their fingers to operate the controls of the aircraft is another leap on the part of the writers.
Just to slightly correct your point. The first pilot to try and board the aircraft was not sucked out. The release bracket on his tether line got snagged on some debris. When it pulled, it dropped the line and he was just washed away by the airflow.
"I'm not really me. Thats me there- that pile of albino mouse droppings!"
More dramatic if he dies.
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