The Swissair MD11 led to a lot of changes to the insulation on transport category aircraft. The insulation is used for both thermal and acoustic insulation. It also provides some protection against pooling fuel fires on the ground - increasing the time available for evacuation.

The material on the Swissair MD11 was a contributor - AN26? Together with polyimide (kapton) wiring as the likely ignition source. Subsequently replaced by better materials. It cost the airlines a lot to replace - it is not an easy job.

Speke - I am trying to guess what type of office that is.
Nimrod?

Tartare - close, it's a DH Comet 4 flight deck.


And with thanks to Senior Pilot for fixing my image link problem!

If you put one of today's airline pilots behind all those levers and switches he would have to be led away for counselling.

And, during the time when smoking was permitted on Hercs, the icy water had a lovely brown nicotine tint to it.

Was that the "Twin Fan" varient?

Indeed - was a personal victim of that happening up the front of the C130.
As a keen as mustard young PPL with a newly minted 152 rating, was fortunate to find myself on RNZAF 03, down to the ice and back in 95.
On approach into ChCh, I asks if I can watch from the flight deck.
"Sure," says the driver, "...just stand behind my seat and hold onto the frame, you'll see exactly what I am seeing."
Crikey - standing up behind the pilot - these military guys sure do get to do things differently than civvy street...
As we broke through the cloud layer on finals - the damn plane started dripping on everyone - various sighs around the flight deck as people mopped up...

A typical ‘joke’ on the C130K was for the FE to use a Nav rule to feed the drips down the co-pilot’s neck while they were flying the approach...

The other 'trick of the C130 was to collect rain water in the insulation blanket underneath the escape hatches This too would eventually add to the cascade of freezing condesation water .

I was privy to a condensation investigation for a v large charter airline where the subject 757 was producing an average of 8 gallons of water per holiday flight...from the cockpit.
In my humble opinion, the grey insulation used by in military helicopters is to absorb as much hydraulic and gearbox oils as possible in order to hide the evidence in case of fire.

I had a Flt Eng try that with me. He got rather a shock when I swapped hands on the yoke, reached into my Nav Bag, grabbed MY Nav Rule, turned and twatted the muppet in the face with it, before continuing the approach. He never tried giving me ess aitch one tee ee again after that.

Condensation tricks.
Had a work colleague cameraman who was sent up for a ride in an RNZAF T-A4K.
Sat in the back seat as he was strapped in and told "we'll just test the air ventilation to ensure it's working..."
Got a face-full of fine condensation mist - oh how they all smirked.
He was a rather obnoxious chap...

Noise you say! Try 8+ hours in the C-130A [RAAF] with the big three bladed props beating the air into submission and sharing the vibrations and noise with the inhabitants...