Scattering of ashes from a plane

[Craig Broadbent]

Just wondering if anyone has found or knows of a device that can be used to scatter ashes from a plane. Have seen a plane in the US that had a device that ejected ashes out through a hole in the floor but wondering if anyone has anything similar or knows of anything that might work.

[NaFenn]

Not aware of any device as such, however my old man scattered ashes once in the 70's out of an aircraft window. It didnt go well, most of the ashes blew back into the cabin... so wouldn't reccomend that.

[Squawk7700]

Where are you located?

There’s a mob south-east of Melbourne that has a device specifically made for this.

[compressor stall]

Yes, easier said than done.

Definitely try beforehand with the device / method in question.

[Global Aviator]

Not aware of any device as such, however my old man scattered ashes once in the 70's out of an aircraft window. It didnt go well, most of the ashes blew back into the cabin... so wouldn't reccomend that.

Aaaaaahhhhh! An all to familiar tale!!!

[Craig Broadbent]

Where are you located?

There’s a mob south-east of Melbourne that has a device specifically made for this.


I’m in Fitzroy but regularly around Moorabbin if you know the name of the business that would be helpful.

[Ascend Charlie]

Been there, done that, washed the T-shirt...

[muddergoose]

Get a garden hose, stick a small funnel in the end. Hang the funnel past the tail cone and duct tape the the hose to the fuselage. That should give you a vacuum then stick the hose end in the urn. That’ll do it. Don’t let anyone catch you.

[Squawk7700]

Can’t message you Craig as you’re new and you can’t receive messages yet. Drop me a message at auswebcams.com

[Zeus]

One of my previous operators would put the ashes in a sock. When held out the DV window the sock was then turned inside out. Told it avoided the blow back problem. Might be worth "a dry run"?

[KRviator]

Just wondering if anyone has found or knows of a device that can be used to scatter ashes from a plane. Have seen a plane in the US that had a device that ejected ashes out through a hole in the floor but wondering if anyone has anything similar or knows of anything that might work.I built & tested one for my RV-9A for the ashes of a pilot mate and it was a very successful 'final flight' for him.

The ashes are loaded in with the pod upside down, the door is closed, and the pod bolted to the wing tiedown point. Some HD aluminium tape secured the rear portion to avoid any tendancy to 'weathercock' around the bolt (didn't move an inch though). A thin 2-core cable is duct-taped along the trailing edge of the wing just ahead of the flap, and under the canopy seal to a DPDT momentary switch in the cockpit. At the appropriate time, the switch is pressed, and the bottom hatch lowers vertically, and the airflow catches the remains. Turbulence around the hatch ensures pretty much all of the remains are dropped, and if you are orbiting the area, you can see them as they disperse.

https://live.staticflickr.com/1910/45579279392_a600d0265d_c.jpg

[OZBUSDRIVER]

Seem to remember a story here on PRUNE a long while back about using a Cherokee storm window. Funnel with longish nozzle and some foam packing to seal off the window. Once over the desired area, open the urn and pour into the funnel. Enough negative pressure to suck the remains clear and actually, away from the fuselage.

[B2N2]

I have no first hand experience as I’ve always politely refused to do those flights but have heard the horror stories of others that have.....returned with half the deceased now permanently part of the airplane in tail cones and elevator hinges and fabric interiors.
For an unaltered plane may I suggest a plastic bag with a ripcord? So a practice run or two to get the system right.
And home made contraptions attached to the airplane can get you in hot water with the authorities.
You could also consider a skydiver plane with a rear opening hatch.
After the jumpers have vacated eject the ashes.

[triadic]

I have seen this done from a multi-engine acft. A small length (~2ft) of fibreglass drain pipe about 3 in in diameter - modify one end to make it easy to insert the ashes or put in a sock with end tied off till you want to activate. Place the pipe out the strm window and undo the sock. Have a pilot in the other seat so you can do the job and not have to fly the acft at the same time. If the pipe is out far enought there should not be any 'blowback'. A practice run would be good. Good luck

[CAVOK92]

The 200mm Polly Pipe is the way to go with a flap at One end and a handle at the other opening it via a rod/torque tube arrangement. If it is a couple of foot long you can poke it out the window far enough. Best side is with the down going propwash. Used a similar arrangement in a tiger moth before. The only messy part was getting the ashes in the pipe. I would advise to not do it in front of the family and probably not wearing black clothing. Speaking from experience.

[peterc005]

I've heard rumors that RVAC have a Warrior (?) with a PVC pipe thru the floor for dropping ashes.

[Chasco175]

We sent my father to meet his god in a thin plastic lunch bag. We tied about 3 metres of cord to the seat frame and then tied the other end around dad in the bag. I measured the line needed on the ground to make sure it would clear the airframe and then made a practice run using flour in the bag. It worked a treat. Put the bag out the window.As the bag reaches the end of the line it jerks the bag and then splits and the contents disappear. Pull the line back in and no mess and no rubbish left. It worked for us.

[RatsoreA]

I wouldn’t mind being scattered from an airplane when my time comes...


I am against getting cremated though.

[Asturias56]

A few years ago there was an article in the US magazine Flying about this - the general view was not to do it

But if you do.....

Make sure you have someone other than the pilot doing the work so the pilot FLYS THE PLANE AT ALL TIMES..

Small 'planes often generate a low pressure area in the cabin - hence the embarrassing blow back Using a long flexible plastic tube with a weight on the end and FIXED to the plane seemed to work - the end gets outside the pressure variations around the aircraft - but of course it may strike the tail or wrap itself around the rudder......

Someone suggest attaching the ashes to hydrogen balloon and using a BB gun to pop it when it reached a suitable height..............

[Union Jack]

Lots more fuel for the fire available here:

https://www.pprune.org/questions/536018-advice-scattering-persons-ash-s-air.html?highlight=scattering+ashes

https://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/572468-dispersal-ashes-aeroplane.html?highlight=scattering+ashes

My lips remain sealed regarding burials at sea.....

Jack

[longrass]

I wouldn’t mind being scattered from an airplane when my time comes...


I am against getting cremated though.

A bloke tried that in America a while ago, in a Q400 that he hijacked. I guess you could aim for a similar thing. Probably do it in a cheaper machine though if you can.

[roundsounds]

Get a piece of PVC pipe (100mm diameter, 300mm long) attach a handle to grip it with (cupboard door style will do). Use a couple of layers of masking tape to tape up one end, pour the ashes into the container. Run a length of thin nylon chord around the open end of the pipe and tape it around the outside rim leaving about 500mm length of it free. Now tape over the open end. The chord becomes the method of releasing the ashes. You’ll need to have the person holding the container have it well outside the aircraft before they pull the chord, also slow down - the slower the better. Depending on the aircraft type you could tape the container to a gear leg and run the chord into the aircraft. It’s worth doing a static test using sand to get the method right. I’ve done a number of these over the years. The first being in a Tiger Moth with me flying and my dad scattering the ashes - we learnt a LOT that day. I eventually used the pipe method to spread my dad’s ashes.

[LeadSled]

Get a garden hose, stick a small funnel in the end. Hang the funnel past the tail cone and duct tape the the hose to the fuselage. That should give you a vacuum then stick the hose end in the urn. That’ll do it. Don’t let anyone catch you.
Mudder,
All with a Part 21 engineer's certificate, of course, with the necessary flight tests, and a supplement in the AFM to cover the operation of the modification.
Seriously, folks, any bits of poly pipe or whatever "out the window", be seriously careful and don't fumble it, could be embarrassing.
Tootle pip!!

[Maisk Rotum]

Easy. Done it already. Open container and cover with palm firmly. Hold it outside window and rearward. Remove hand. RIP Geoffrey T. O.

[fulmar]

I haven’t posted under this name for many a long year (but I have under other names!) but I just had to tell this story.

As Airport Manager of a large GAAP airport in SE Australia I had to handle many “interesting” events. One day a Funeral Director walked in and asked if he could scatter some ashes on the airport. The gentleman in question was never a pilot but always loved aviation and his widow was keen on this appropriate gesture.So I agreed to take the funeral party to an isolated part of the airport, near the engine test cell, and I would escort them. No ASIC’s in those days.

On the day the FD and the widow turned up with an urn- and nobody else! So we got into my car and proceeded to the spot where I intended to stand to one side, hands reverently clasped, whilst the “ceremony” took place. Instead the FD gave me the urn and basically said “You are the Airport manager- carry on!”I said under my breath “Whats his name?” and then desperately thought up a few words to say about the dear departed Fred Nurk. I then proceeded to scatter the ashes.

Now here’s a thing. Ashes don’t scatter, they clump. And as I opened the urn the entire contents hit the ground and formed a nice little white hill, which we stared at for a while. The widow seemed happy. But there was no wind and this little white hill just sat there.So we got back into the car and I took them back to the terminal, they gave me their thanks and departed in the funeral car.

And I thought I can’t just leave the ashes there: they might blow into a departing Cessna or something. So I got back into my car and went back to the area and, checking that nobody especially the tower was looking, quietly scattered the ashes widely over the ground with my right foot.

[Squawk7700]

Management of the MCG recently pleaded with visitors to not spread ashes on the field for this reason and of course because it’s not really the done thing if everyone starts doing it. Each to their own, especially if you lived and breathed AFL.

[Pinky the pilot]

A few years ago I had a Mate who requested that his ashes be spread over the Waikerie Airfield...in a special way!:hmm:

Taxied the Gliding Club's Pawnee out into the centre of the airfield, parked it and locked on the brakes.

Large sheet of plywood placed under the tail wheel and ashed poured onto the plywood just aft of the tailwheel.:ooh:

Started Engine and went to about 1800rpm with stick firmly back!:eek:

Took surprisingly quite a long time to blow all the ashes away. About 5 minutes IIRC.

: RIP Schultzy.:sad:

[Egipps]

Funeral Directors will 'decant' the ashes into paper bags if asked. Folded over at the top these could then be dropped from the storm window and should nicely open on the way down. No risk of blow back this way.

[mustafagander]

There's a famous story about an old mate of mine here in Oz.
He wanted his ashes scattered from an "historic aircraft" for which he was Chief Flight Engineer. Now you all know who I mean. I was one of his trainees in the airline and a good mate (I hope!). We were regular drinking buddies anyway.
As often happens, the cabin filled with a grey haze with the customary comments from the pax. We all said "that figures, one last joke on us all!!"
RIP RH!!