Drinking and Flying

[Bazza]

Now Children,

In the old days, when people were frightened of flying, the planes used to have a big tank of alcohol and all the passengers could drink it through plastic tubes......



Found this in the virtual cockpit of the default DC3 (behind the pilot ?) - no doubt it has some aviation type use - Ozzie will probably know.

[atotti2000]

ha ha ha... it could be for the post-flight part. im sure it was a relief to land in some flights!!

thanks

ant

[Jared]

lol, I saw that awhile back and took a screenshot, but then my internet was acting up that night and I couldn't get it uplaoded, and since then i had forgotten about it until now....:-)

[SilverFox441]

Alcohol was used as a fuel deicer in many planes of the 40's and 50's...the CT-133 had an alcohol tank inside the engine chamber.

[ozzy72]

I find most pilots have an alcohol tank fitter to them
Its better known by its aviation name as a "Beer Belly"

Ozzy

[Bazza]

I knew that two things would come out of this post----

1.    That someone brighter than me would know what it
      actually was,     :-/  and that :
   

2.     Ozzie would respond accordingly, (he still owes me
       a beer.)    

[ozzy72]

Err how do you propose I get the beer to you Bazza? I could scan one and email it to you I suppose.....

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Hi Bazza:

The sight tube you are looking at was used to give an indication of how much ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL was left in the tank.

Many aircraft like the DC3 had prop-deicers which used isopropyl alcohol.

[Bazza]

Thanks for that Doug, the level of knowledge on this site never fails to amaze..

I have heaps of literature on DC3's and as far as I can recall no mention of that anywhere - nothing like personal experience I suppose.

As for that beer Mark, there are problems I admit, but I'm working on it.

[Falcon_Six_Two]

[quote]Hi Bazza:

The sight tube you are looking at was used to give an indication of how much ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL was left in the tank.

Many aircraft like the DC3 had prop-deicers which used isopropyl alcohol.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Hi Falcon:

It was used for de-icing.
We also used vegetable and mineral based hydraulic fluids prior to what they are using to-day.
Survival equipment such as edible candles were also standard on most  military aircraft up to the late 1960s.
Most people are more familiar with ethylene glycol, diol, dihydric alcohol which are a sweet but poisonous syrupy liquid used as an antifreeze and solvent.
Glycol is any of a class of alcohols having 2 hydroxyl groups in each molecule.
The inventions, proto types and progress made by militarys in peace and war is what usually brings forth commercial products used by the private sector.
Not being a chemist or very well versed on glycol I am sure if you looked on the internet or even asked your science teacher you would get a lot more help than I can give you.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Bazza]

Doug,

when you tried to drink the Iso-P, did you find it had a bitter taste ?

Bazza

[Saitek]

Thats interesting. I never knew that.

Ben

[ozzy72]

Bazza try tonic water and a slice of lemon with your Iso-P. Delicious

[eno]

Bazza try tonic water and a slice of lemon with your Iso-P. Delicious

Sounds like a new sports drink ........ enhances ability untill it hits your legs  ;D