Opening the doors

[stickyb]

There have been a number of reports in the press recently about air rage incidents, and a disturbingly common thread is the apparent tendency of the afflicted to grab the door handle and threaten or attempt to get out at altitude.
Is it actually possible to open the door whilst cruising?

[WOK]

No

[Bullethead]

There is no way in the world or an aeroplane either. A B747 main deck door is roughly six feet high by four feet wide giving a total area of 72ins x 48ins = 3456sq ins
Multiply that by the diferential pressure of approx 8.5 psi gives you a total force on the door of 3456 x 8.5 = 29,376 lbs or just over 13 tons holding it shut! You and Superman are not going to move it when the a/c is pressurised. :) :)
Regards.

[steely]

Airplane doors are an engineering wonder in that they are actually bigger than the hole that they fit into. That's why they need to pivot on special hinges to come inside the fuselage from the outside, and then turn again to fit inside the hole. Thats why the internal pressure squeezes them more firmly shut.

[stickyb]

Thanks guys, its nice to be reassured.

[Meeb]

It all depends on what type of aircraft you are talking about. Most unpressurised aircraft have doors which can be opened in flight, but as they swing forward into the airstream, it would be near impossible to exit through it!



[This message has been edited by Meeb (edited 01 November 2000).]