Re: interesting pic for a classroom exercise?

[Stefan Jeglinski <jeglin@4PI.COM>]

> The length of the MD-11 is 200'11" or 202'2", depending on which
> engine is has.  That probably isn't as important as whether it is
> viewed at a slight angle rather that perfectly edge on in the photo.
> Taking the length as 200 feet, and assuming the view is close enough
> to edge on, the distance I caluclate is 25 miles.

I used 300 feet to get 30 miles, but admittedly did not keep too many
significant digits in some of my calculations, and rounded off some
known values (like the distance to the sun, which I remember as
93,000,000 miles, too lazy to look it up). I've heard there are
planes on the drawing board coming up soon that will carry 1000
people (like a cruise ship in the sky). How long will those beasts be?


Stefan Jeglinski