Can pilots do tricks in a fish bowl ?
 

When visiting a zoo or aquarium, people invariably end up tapping on the glass to see if the animals will react and maybe move in response or do tricks to amuse the visitors.

When boarding a flight as a passenger via steps (not a bridge), one usually has access to the windows near where captain sits. Has anybody (adults, not children) tried tapping on the window to see if pilot(s) will react and maybe do tricks ? Perhaps a bit like getting a seal/sea lion to clap its flippers in return for being given a fish... Did the pilot(s) do any cool tricks ? Or was it just a boring voice response that sounded a bit like "BUCK OFF" ?

davidjohnson6
I do not tap on the window, why would you ? However I always tap the airframe on the R/H side of the door when boarding any A/C. It was something my Dad did, so I carried it on (perhaps because he survived Bomber Command in WW2) though was shot down. I thought in my child mind it brought him luck, so I followed him in doing this, and always do it what ever the size of A/C.

Cheers
Mr Mac

I take it this is a wind up..

For those that don't know during boarding the pilots are often in the middle of performing some very critical tasks such as loading data into the management computers, cross checking the same and perhaps briefing the departure.

Hopefully they wouldn't reply with "buck off" but it's the thought that counts.

A classic example of why one shouldn’t post in the early hours after one drink too many?

I take this as a serious question.
One should never tap on the glass as they will turn into nervous wrecks and lose all respect for humanity.

Perhaps this is why my nephew decided to give up on the SLF and move to freighters. :ok:

I once tipped a BA pilot - standing in the door of the cabin, doffing his cap to us all...................

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b3b7694552.jpg
Old but still good...

I do the same but I don't know why...

Wow! Same here! Rap, twice, actually. Must be done _before_ setting foot on board. Always! Never saw, or heard anyone else do it. And, try not to think of _that_ Twilight Zone episode....:eek: I guess if I can't do the pre-flight, the rapping must suffice?

I have seen others tap the fuselage on boarding. Never done it and I do not know why they do. Sounds like good old human superstition.

I always slap the underneath of the rear fuselage before boarding any aerobatic machine - not superstition, just listening for any pens/bottles/false teeth that might cause a control restriction.

Mog