747ER
747ER t1_j8qi5y5 wrote
Reply to TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow
The sea was angry that day my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.
747ER t1_j86r15x wrote
Reply to TIL the Pacific island nation of Nauru has been so damaged by phosphate mining that in 1964 Australia offered to repopulate the entire nation to Curtis Island near the Australian Coast. Nauru refused the offer in order to maintain their sovereignty and not become part of Australia. by triviafrenzy
Nauru is genuinely one of the most interesting countries in the world. Not much left of it now, but their connection to Australia and low population makes it home to quite a few world records (not all of them for the best). Such a fascinating country!
747ER t1_izruair wrote
Reply to TIL: The GAU-8/A AVENGER was designed and initially produced by an appliance company, General Electric. by visual_observer
OP may be interested to know that a good 60-70% of the commercial aircraft they have flown on were powered by engines made by General Electric (or their affiliate company, CFM International). For me and many people who work in aviation, General Electric will always be an engine manufacturer first, appliance company second.
747ER t1_ixptkqc wrote
Reply to comment by quixoticVigil in TIL Alice's Restaurant Massacree is mostly a true story by SatansLoLHelper
Heaped, dead, burned bodies…
747ER t1_ix1uvjv wrote
Reply to comment by lying_Iiar in TIL after a seizure left him paralyzed except for his left eyelid, Jean-Dominique Bauby (1952-1997) wrote the bestselling book "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" by blinking to select each letter as an assistant recited the alphabet to him. by chumloadio
They used a specialised alphabet order with the most frequently used letters first
747ER t1_ix1uinc wrote
Reply to comment by cetacretin in TIL after a seizure left him paralyzed except for his left eyelid, Jean-Dominique Bauby (1952-1997) wrote the bestselling book "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" by blinking to select each letter as an assistant recited the alphabet to him. by chumloadio
Here is a clip of one of these legal preferences being carried out:
747ER t1_itrz7c4 wrote
Reply to comment by brighter_hell in TIL that flight recorders must be able to withstand an acceleration of 3400 g for 6.5 milliseconds and that this is roughly equivalent to an impact velocity of 270 knots (310 mph; 500 km/h). by IchBinKoloss
Not really. Cirrus’ CAPS system has saved a few aircraft but it has largely not been accepted by the aviation industry. It’s also a light 4-seat aircraft rather than, you know, a 180-seat jetliner.
747ER t1_itrypjl wrote
Reply to comment by Bott in TIL that flight recorders must be able to withstand an acceleration of 3400 g for 6.5 milliseconds and that this is roughly equivalent to an impact velocity of 270 knots (310 mph; 500 km/h). by IchBinKoloss
That’s a lot of data being collected and stored for an event that’s never supposed to happen. Should aircraft like VH-OJU store data for every single cockpit conversation and every single thing that happens during the flight for 23+ years, only to be retired after a long career with zero fatalities? Such a waste of resources particularly in a time when satellites are becoming increasingly crowded.
747ER t1_itpjs6q wrote
Reply to comment by Banea-Vaedr in TIL The fiddle part in "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is taken from a Vassar Clements song called "Lonesome Fiddle Blues" by purplechinacat
He was in a bind, cause he was way behind, he was willing to make a deal…
747ER t1_irqjzi6 wrote
Reply to comment by fortunatelythemilk in TIL that not all spiders that spin webs make them sticky. One of many strategies includes spinning a fine silky lattice that entangles their prey instead. by Orisno
I saw one a few years ago as a Halloween special, it was called “House of Spiders” I think? Not sure if it’s the one you’re thinking of
747ER t1_j9w6z2g wrote
Reply to TIL That Toronto, the largest city in Canada, is not only south of London, Paris, and Berlin, but also south of Milan, Italy. by scorr204
I think it’s more West of those places rather than South personally