Ash Drop

Mtns2Skies

Final Approach
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Mtns2Skies
My uncle learned a very valuable lesson. He was a chopper pilot for the coast guard and often had to dump people's ashes over the ocean. The first time he did; it he did this process in a hover... A bad move. Most of the ashes blew up on his crew and up in the rotors, It also got stuck in the oil so by the time he got back to base and washed it off the helo and crew most of the guy ended up down the drain not the ocean:goofy:
 
I've read quite a bit about this topic, in other forums. Flying Spam Cans like most of us do, it's a bit of a trick, creating a suction (rather than a back-flow) out of the cockpit.

Best way I've heard is to extend a pipe (or hose) out the window into the slip stream. This creates a natural vacuum effect, and you can stick the other end of the hose into the urn, quickly and neatly evacuating the cremains.

I haven't tried this myself, yet, but it sounds logical.
 
I scattered my father's ashes from the Citabria over our farm. Ed Guthrie's method worked well for us and none of the ashes came back into the airplane.
 
I have also been involved with scattering ashes. The method they used was to put the ashes in a paper bag, tie it with a cord which seemed like it was about six feet long, and tie the other end of the cord securely to the airplane. When you throw the bag overboard it breaks when it gets to the end of the cord.
 
Make some slits (perforations) around the neck of the sack below the area where the cord is wrapped around the neck. Ashes won't come out, sack will break quickly and cleanly at perf's.

I have also been involved with scattering ashes. The method they used was to put the ashes in a paper bag, tie it with a cord which seemed like it was about six feet long, and tie the other end of the cord securely to the airplane. When you throw the bag overboard it breaks when it gets to the end of the cord.
 
it wasn't exactly a question i just wanted to share what happened to my uncle.
 
My uncle learned a very valuable lesson. He was a chopper pilot for the coast guard and often had to dump people's ashes over the ocean. The first time he did; it he did this process in a hover... A bad move. Most of the ashes blew up on his crew and up in the rotors, It also got stuck in the oil so by the time he got back to base and washed it off the helo and crew most of the guy ended up down the drain not the ocean:goofy:

I'm pretty sure he got to the ocean.....eventually
 
it wasn't exactly a question i just wanted to share what happened to my uncle.
Thanks for sharing. :) Sometimes we get going on and on about our own experiences when someone brings something like this up. BTW, you are 13, or maybe 14 by now? You seem quite mature judging from some of your posts. I hope things are going well with your lessons.
 
Best way I've heard is to extend a pipe (or hose) out the window into the slip stream. This creates a natural vacuum effect, and you can stick the other end of the hose into the urn, quickly and neatly evacuating the cremains.

I haven't tried this myself, yet, but it sounds logical.

Did it once several years ago using a 182. Done properly (and we did) it works well. Done improperly and I can see winding up with a cockpit full of ash.
 
The longest and most hilarious thread on the original web board that became the red board was "Air Dead Guy."

That is all.
 
I recently saw a nifty device for this purpose: a 3" dia. PVC tube about 2 ft. long, mounted (temporarily) to the strut of a 172. A wire running through the gap under the window is pulled (by the right-seater)to release the flap on the back. I was told it worked great.
They'd originally put a cap on the front end of the tube, but found that without it, the ashes stayed put for taxi/takeoff/etc, but came out much better when the release was pulled.
 
I recently saw a nifty device for this purpose: a 3" dia. PVC tube about 2 ft. long, mounted (temporarily) to the strut of a 172. A wire running through the gap under the window is pulled (by the right-seater)to release the flap on the back. I was told it worked great.
They'd originally put a cap on the front end of the tube, but found that without it, the ashes stayed put for taxi/takeoff/etc, but came out much better when the release was pulled.

I wonder if they got a field approval for that rig.
 
I built a device similar to what rottydaddy described... But it was longer, and had vents built into it... the secret is to get the ashes below the horizontal stab, or you will sand(ash) blast the leading edges... the ashes are very abrasive
 
What I really don't like in that story is the picture of the small plane having hit a skyscraper with the caption like "there's precedent for a small plane attack." Yes, it illustrates just how ineffective it would be, but...

Just goes to show that the USA doesn't have a monopoly on stupid uninformed reporters and editors.
 
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