I was just wondering if airplanes can float on sea water. I'm referring to commercial jetliners (eg: boeing 747, Airbus 380, etc)
2007-12-30 15:51:51 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
If the seas are reasonably smooth, and the airplane was flown appropriately, then yes the airplane will float. How long will depend on how much damage the aircraft sustained during ditching, but it should be long enough to evacuate the plane using the emergency life rafts.
2007-12-30 16:25:22 · answer #1 · answered by morg777 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The huge Dornier DOX of the thirties wings were filled with ping pong balls for bouyancy in case it's hull failed.
2007-12-31 16:08:38 · answer #2 · answered by cf_fills 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a 747 and a380 no it will be a very little chance maybe like 2%
look at the engines...thier on the wing. if thier still going the engines will suck up the water and flip the aircraft. you have a better chance of a safe water landing if you fying a 717 or md-80 where the engines are in the back and the body of the plane is flat and the engines are on the back of the plane mounted so the plane will not flip.
2007-12-31 00:20:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
It could happen, but the odds of the captain putting down in one piece would be infinitesimal.
Their are obviously sea planes and some are used commercially in remote areas, but nothing the size of a jetliner.
2007-12-30 17:03:15 · answer #4 · answered by wcowell2000 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If the pilot lands well, and the plane stays more or less intact, then it will float for a short time.
However, it will fill with water, and sink...no chance whatsoever of floating forever.
2007-12-30 16:00:11 · answer #5 · answered by powhound 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they will float for awhile, assuming a successful ditching and not a crash has occurred. 20-30 minutes is a safe guess, maybe longer, but they will eventually sink as water seeps in.
2007-12-30 15:59:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
they will float about an hour depedig on how it was put down to 3 hours ans they eventually sink,
2007-12-30 16:27:46 · answer #7 · answered by John N 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can definitely float but they just can't float indefinitely but I am just talking about a undamaged aircraft
2007-12-30 15:58:49 · answer #8 · answered by rray1952@sbcglobal.net 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Yes it can for a little bit
2015-02-08 13:24:52 · answer #9 · answered by Joctopus Tran 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are some kinds that do. ones that can land on water, its for like private islands without plane landing things :]
2007-12-30 16:00:33 · answer #10 · answered by daniellesoda 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋