Check out this article on a Westjet flight last night from Calgary to Nova Scotia. Plane hit turbulance and threw passengers around like rag dolls.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home

 

Saw that when I came into work this morning, and already had 2 people come into my cargo office and ask me what happened.

 

Anyone read Airframe by Michael Crichton?

- NCSU

 

I've only once experienced "severe" turbulence. It's amazing just how much aircraft can handle.

We were flying over a mountain pass when we lost 500 feet, and 80 knots of groundspeed in a split second. I was strapped in with a 6 point harness and still have a scar on my face (I didn't have me visor down) from hitting part of the ****pit in front of me. Most aircraft are designed to withstand a lot more punishment than the people inside.

 

yup... but then I've read all but a few of his earliest books...

 

I took a big drop like that recently when i was flying home from my trip to Chicago. There was some pretty severe weather and all you could see from outside the plan was lightning. I guess im an a**hole because when we started going down it felt like a fall from a rollercoaster ride and when it happend i said WEEEEEEE!

Needless to say my gf was pissed and scared; aswell as the other passengers, but i figured if that plane does go down im not going to survive anyway so what the hell. I was kinda scared though.

 

Yep, good book. I have, and have read, all his books.

 

I spent 20 years as aircrew on a P-3 Orion - been through a LOT of turbulence.

 

Flying out of Denver one night the plane I was on hit some turbulence. Don't know how far we actually dropped but it felt like we rolled 90 degrees instantly then came right back to horizontal. The woman next to me ended up in my lap. Everybody was screaming. I thought I was gonna die. I'm suprised how calm I was though. Just thought, Great, this is how I'm gonna die. Chitty!!