Megastructures - demolish a 747

Megastructures - demolish a 747

Author
Discussion

RemaL

Original Poster:

25,036 posts

249 months

Sunday 5th October 2008
quotequote all
seen this on TV today. was wondering why on hell they use Depleted uranium in planes.

My knowledge of planes and Depleted uranium is small but when the EHO in film had to make sure it was not cut and thus become radioactive was interesting to say the least

I guess its only due to the size VS weight they use it and how much danger would people be in if the plane crashed

just interested to find out more

tinman0

18,231 posts

255 months

Sunday 5th October 2008
quotequote all
Was watching that earlier. Getting a bit boring watching quite so many reality type programmes hamming it up.

B17NNS

18,506 posts

262 months

Sunday 5th October 2008
quotequote all
bugger, thats twice i've missed in now.

is it available on line or repeated?

RemaL

Original Poster:

25,036 posts

249 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
anyone got any info on the reason they sue this metal on planes

JVaughan

6,025 posts

298 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
Weight.

Heavier than Lead

rude-boy

22,227 posts

248 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
tinman0 said:
Was watching that earlier. Getting a bit boring watching quite so many reality type programmes hamming it up.
As the g/f said to me, "Christ, was this made by the same morrons that did Ice Road Truckers and Axe Men?"

RemaL

Original Poster:

25,036 posts

249 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
JVaughan said:
Weight.

Heavier than Lead
and not dangerious if the plane crashed

Shar2

2,238 posts

228 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
RemaL said:
anyone got any info on the reason they sue this metal on planes
Can't see any real use of DU on an aircraft, other than firing it out of a large gatling gun. The weight penalties would be rediculous. I've certainly never come across it on the aircraft i've worked on.

shirt

24,319 posts

216 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
density of depleted uranium is very high. it was used on older aircraft for counterweighting control surfaces. the weights could be made smaller using uranium.

Neil_H

15,401 posts

266 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
RemaL said:
anyone got any info on the reason they sue this metal on planes
I believe they use them as counterweights, being very heavy stuff I guess it means it takes up less actual space for equivalent weight of other dense materials.

ETA: bugger, beaten to it

Edited by Neil_H on Monday 6th October 11:54

rude-boy

22,227 posts

248 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
shirt said:
density of depleted uranium is very high. it was used on older aircraft for counterweighting control surfaces. the weights could be made smaller using uranium.
My guess as well but didn't say anything as i know sweet FA about yon flying machines.

tinman0

18,231 posts

255 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
rude-boy said:
tinman0 said:
Was watching that earlier. Getting a bit boring watching quite so many reality type programmes hamming it up.
As the g/f said to me, "Christ, was this made by the same morrons that did Ice Road Truckers and Axe Men?"
Ice Road Truckers are a bunch of whining girls and Axe Men just look like amatuers.

The best one by a long chalk is Deadliest Catch.

Mandat

4,238 posts

253 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
tinman0 said:
rude-boy said:
tinman0 said:
Was watching that earlier. Getting a bit boring watching quite so many reality type programmes hamming it up.
As the g/f said to me, "Christ, was this made by the same morrons that did Ice Road Truckers and Axe Men?"
Ice Road Truckers are a bunch of whining girls and Axe Men just look like amatuers.

The best one by a long chalk is Deadliest Catch.
Trawlermen on BBC1 was way better IMHO.

Tom_C76

1,923 posts

203 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
RemaL said:
seen this on TV today. was wondering why on hell they use Depleted uranium in planes.

My knowledge of planes and Depleted uranium is small but when the EHO in film had to make sure it was not cut and thus become radioactive was interesting to say the least

I guess its only due to the size VS weight they use it and how much danger would people be in if the plane crashed

just interested to find out more
Only caught a short section, where the guy got hydraulic fluid in his face and eyes. And to scrap a car all the fluids have to be pumped out...

TC

Shar2

2,238 posts

228 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
Tom_C76 said:
Only caught a short section, where the guy got hydraulic fluid in his face and eyes. And to scrap a car all the fluids have to be pumped out...

TC
Wasn't just hydraulic fluid, it was skydrol, real nasty st.

As for using DU as counterweights, I can see that as good reason, just have never come across it, (only worked on smallish aircraft).

scorp

8,783 posts

244 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
RemaL said:
JVaughan said:
Weight.

Heavier than Lead
and not dangerious if the plane crashed
yes DU is hardly radioactive, it can generally be handled in your bare hands. What is nasty is when particles of it get in your lungs/etc, because your body cannot clear it.

fflyingdog

621 posts

254 months

Monday 6th October 2008
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DU used on aircraft as balance weights etc ,also used widely as rivet blocks.

Eric Mc

123,876 posts

280 months

Monday 6th October 2008
quotequote all
Yes, used as mass balances on ailerons, rudders and trim tabs. Not a problem if disposed of correctly. When the KLM 747 crashed into a block of flats in Holland there was all sorts of discussion about the effects that the depleted uranium from the control surfaces had on survivors but I've never heard it being mentioned in respect of any other accident.

TimJMS

2,584 posts

266 months

Tuesday 7th October 2008
quotequote all
IIRC the A-10 Fairchild uses depleted uranium, but in a capacity where potential radiation sickness is viewed as less of a worry wink

NDA

23,169 posts

240 months

Tuesday 7th October 2008
quotequote all

It's for the hidden missile systems built into every 747. Also plutonium is used in the preparation of hot food in economy on most Airbus craft.



Some of this is guesswork.