Ok, imagine a jumbo jet cargo plane carrying 10 tons of birds (crows, parrots )?

Question

Ok, imagine a jumbo jet cargo plane carrying 10 tons of birds (crows, parrots..whatever ) all at once,the birds start to flap their wings and lift themselves off the jumbo's floor..
Question; does the aircraft lose 10 tons in weight ???

why and how?

Answer 1

Strange answers.
The weight would still be there.
For example, in order to fly a 5 pound bird must have more than 5 pounds of upward motion. The wings flap against the air causing the downward motion which pushes down at 5 pounds or more.
The experiment is proven with a toy helicopter over a scale.
Once in open air and the second time in a box.
In open air once the downward wash of air moves the helicopter higher the air is dispersed and no weight is shown.
In a closed box the downwash has no where to go but down so at the same height as the open air the weight reflects the weight of the helicopter.
So in answering your question it takes the equal force to lift the bird up and even a greater force to pick up speed or keep going up.
The weight of the aircraft would stay the same due to being enclosed.
Simple science.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Answer 2

I'll assume you meant that they all took off and landed at the same instant. When they take off, they would push the plane down. As the birds get to the top of their flight path inside the airplane, they momentarily become weightless and could stop flapping their wings for an instant. Also the birds become weightless as they descend to the floor of the airplane. If the birds hover in sustained flight inside the airplane, the plane will weigh the same, not because of the mere fact that they are in the airplane (unless they float like balloons), but because of the downwash of the wings pushing on the floor of the plane.

So, quick summary:

Birds take off- plane feels heavier.

Birds reach the top, or descend- plane feels lighter.

Birds in sustained flight- plane feels the same.

It all depends on the motion of the birds relative to the airplane, not what is directly supporting them. It could be the floor, or their perches, or the air, or the flight attendant or whatever; doesn't matter.

Answer 3

This answer is not linear:

is the aircraft in a climb, level flight, or dive. And where is the weight located. Center of gravity has a lot to do with the answer.

if all the birds move at once, then the aircraft has lost the mass... however the mass is still moving at the same rate. The aircraft would become lighter... and assend... however sinse the aircraft lost weight (like when someone paracutes out) the aircraft center of gravity would change..... and the pilot would have to correct for tthis. It is no different from when an aircraft does a tank drop...

To answer your question (and stop typing) yes it would lose the weight, as weight is mass times gravity... so the lack of mass would change the weight as there is no longer a downward force of 10 tons.

Answer 4

Lindbergh asked the same question. I agree with him. Yes, weights gone. My reasoning is, they are not supported by the aircraft's structure when there in flight so what would be the difference if say it was a C-141 with the back door open and they flew out! As soon as they took flight the weight was gone, it does not matter if they can get out or not. The air inside the 74 is moving with aircraft. Ask the bird I bet he would say H___ yes I am supporting my own weight.

Answer 5

No because, in simple physics terms, for every action, there is a reaction. Therefore, the force exerted on the floorspace of the aircraft would equal the weight of the birds.

Answer 6

No i dont belive it will. if you take a remote control heliocopter and hover it over a scale the scale will read the same weight as if it was parked on the scale due to the force of air pressure down ward. now this can change once the birds were to high then it may not apply.

Answer 7

No, it would still weigh the same. The force of the air pushed down by the wings flapping adds weight.

Answer 8

I don't think so. The birds' wings are still exerting force on the air inside the jet and that air is carried by the jet.

Answer 9

That is a great question!!! I believe no because the craft is still holding everything that is inside of it. If it lost the weight, it would be like inertia and the birds will all splat on the back of the plane.

I don't know, fun question to think about! Thanks!!!

Answer 10

That brief second when they all stop flapping at once,and before they touch the floor is when the plane would try to rise quickly.