Dust to Dust . . .

[tony roberts]

I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.

Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
agree.

An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
the horizontal stab and take us with him.

Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.

A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.

Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.


--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Almost Instrument :)
Cessna 172H C-GICE

[John Harper]

My primary instructor had done this professionally for a while.
His first attempt, emptying a bag through the window, resulted
in the ashes flying into the back and covering the widow and
the priest. Not ideal. He ended up using a length of pipe (plastic
I suppose), as long as reasonably possible given that it has
to be stored and manoeuvered in the cockpit. At the moment,
the passenger threads it through the open window then empties the
ashes down the pipe. This should keep it out of the slipstream.
Of course nobody would actually *know* if the ashes of the
departed ended up mainly stuck to the oil film on the belly, but
it's probably better if they don't.

John


"tony roberts" > wrote in message
news:nospam-A53B13.21060101122003@shawnews...
> I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
> My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
> him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
> from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
> volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
> asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
>
> Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> agree.
>
> An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
> down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
> the horizontal stab and take us with him.
>
> Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
> result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.
>
> A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
> create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.
>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
>
>
> --
>
> Tony Roberts
> PP-ASEL
> VFR OTT
> Night
> Almost Instrument :)
> Cessna 172H C-GICE

[David Hill]

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 05:05:57 GMT, tony roberts >
wrote:

>I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
>My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
>him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
>from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
>volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
>asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
>
>Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
>simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
>agree.
>
>An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
>down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
>the horizontal stab and take us with him.
>
>Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
>result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.

I can confirm that this is exactly what will happen in a 172. I'm not
sure we ever got all the ashes out of the back of that plane.

>
>A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
>create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.

That's what I was thinking of trying next time, if there is a next
time. The tube, if long enough, should allow you to get the ashes
below the level of the horizontal stab. It's amazing how well that
ash sticks to the surface of a plane.

>
>Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
>How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.

David Hill
Sautete-Nacoochee, GA, USA
david at hillREMOVETHISfamilly dot org
www.hillfamily.org

[Montblack]

("tony roberts" wrote)
<snip>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.


This topic comes up every once in a while and usually generates some
"interesting" posts.

Practice using your homemade contraption ....with flour. <g>

That was someone's advice in a previous (How to keep Uncle Charlie from
reentering the plane) thread.

Good luck.

--
Montblack
http://lumma.de/mt/archives/bart.gif

[Jaap Berkhout]

On 2-Dec-2003, tony roberts > wrote:

> Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> agree.
> .
> .
> .
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.

Threw my mother out over sea a couple of months ago.
Technique:
Plane: Cessna 172.
- Used the urn the crematorium supplied.
- Made a wire cage around it with a grip on the bottom. If you held the
grip, the urn was upside down.
- Made a security line from the grip to the right seat (in case someone let
go of the grip).
- Open the urn, cover the opening with cardboard.
- Open BOTH windows.
- Enter a slip, apparent wind comes from the left. Hold open the left
window with your elbow.
- Let the front passenger (no, not my mother) hold the urn outside as far
out as possible.
- Remove the cardboard.
Result: ashes dispersed, no ashes inside.

I made this flight with my two brothers as passsengers. One flies
ultralights, the other is a parajumper. We thought this was a fitting
family outing.

[Pat Thronson]

I was involved in this same ash spreading mission, a couple years back, over
a certain location where a friend use to hunt. I flew the 182 at approx. 100
mph, 10 degrees flap, at 10,000 feet msl. We were surprised to find the
ashes were not all fine powder but had some chunks. The passenger in the
right seat had the baggie of ashes and opened the window, stuck his arm out
as far as he could and punched a hole in the plastic with his finger. IIRC,
the passenger behind him helped hold the window open. It took approx. 15
miles. The comments from him was the air was quit cold and he had to keep
enlarging the hole, one handed, in the baggie for the bigger chunks. I did
not notice any dust coming into the cabin nor did I notice any ashes on the
airplane when we landed. We then cruised the "Rocky mountain range" as they
told stories of hunting with him and pointed out areas where he got that
elk, deer, and other great stories, a very moving experience. We got a
seriously good laugh when it was pointed out the westerly winds might drift
the ashes over the not too popular game warden's house (OT story).
I hope some day this is how I go, "please don't bury me, down in that cold
cold ground...

Pat Thronson



"tony roberts" > wrote in message
news:nospam-A53B13.21060101122003@shawnews...
> I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
> My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
> him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
> from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
> volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
> asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
>
> Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> agree.
>
> An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
> down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
> the horizontal stab and take us with him.
>
> Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
> result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.
>
> A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
> create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.
>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
>
>
> --
>
> Tony Roberts
> PP-ASEL
> VFR OTT
> Night
> Almost Instrument :)
> Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Peter R.]

David Hill ) wrote:

> I can confirm that this is exactly what will happen in a 172. I'm not
> sure we ever got all the ashes out of the back of that plane.

Perhaps the idea of being with you on every flight is more appealing to the
deceased anyhow...

--
Peter












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[Marco Leon]

This article from AOPA should help:

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/topics/burial.html

Good Luck,

Marco

"tony roberts" > wrote in message
news:nospam-A53B13.21060101122003@shawnews...
> I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
> My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
> him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
> from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
> volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
> asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
>
> Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> agree.
>
> An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
> down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
> the horizontal stab and take us with him.
>
> Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
> result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.
>
> A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
> create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.
>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
>
>
> --
>
> Tony Roberts
> PP-ASEL
> VFR OTT
> Night
> Almost Instrument :)
> Cessna 172H C-GICE



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[Jeff Franks]

How about a 3 ft piece of 4" PVC. Maybe you could spray paint it black to
keep it from looking cheap. Cap one end and pour the ashes in there before
takeoff. Once your ready to spread them, push the pipe out the window and
dump.

dunno.


"tony roberts" > wrote in message
news:nospam-A53B13.21060101122003@shawnews...
> I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
> My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
> him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
> from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
> volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
> asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
>
> Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> agree.
>
> An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
> down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
> the horizontal stab and take us with him.
>
> Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
> result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.
>
> A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
> create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.
>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
>
>
> --
>
> Tony Roberts
> PP-ASEL
> VFR OTT
> Night
> Almost Instrument :)
> Cessna 172H C-GICE

[G.R. Patterson III]

tony roberts wrote:
>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.

Saw it done at Kupper airport once. They took a piece of PVC pipe about 4" or
so in diameter and about 18" or so long and sealed one end with duct tape. IIRC,
they had a small plastic bag to cover the top. They placed the ashes inside and
taped the pipe to the right wing strut where it could be easily reached by a
man leaning out the window. The retaining strap on the window was removed so
that the window could be opened completely.

As the plane cruised by the drop point, a passenger leaned out the window and
pulled the duct tape loose. It seemed to me that he had a little trouble with
it. You could get fancier and cap the pipe end with screw-in inspection plugs.

George Patterson
Some people think they hear a call to the priesthood when what they really
hear is a tiny voice whispering "It's indoor work with no heavy lifting".

[Phil McAverty]

"Montblack" > wrote in message
...
> ("tony roberts" wrote)
> <snip>
> > Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> > How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
>

This is a wind up surely?

[tony roberts]

> This is a wind up surely?

Why would you think that?
From the reading that I have done over the last couple of days, and from
the responses posted here, it does not appear to be a unique event.


--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Almost Instrument :)
Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Kevin McCue]

Last time this came up IIRC a good suggestion was.
Put ashes in paper bag. Carefully slit the bag w/razor knife to weaken the
bottom. Tie shut w/a length of cord (12-15ft). Take aloft. secure end of
cord to seat rail or whatever, throw bag out window. Bottom rips out at the
end of the fall, drop done. Suggestion also mentioned adding glitter to
ashes to aid in viewing from the ground.

--
Kevin McCue
KRYN
'47 Luscombe 8E
Rans S-17 (for sale)




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[David Reinhart]

There was an article about this in AOPA Pilot a couple years ago. The
airplane was a Cherokee, with the small window, so I don't know how well the
procedure would work in a 172 with the larger hinged window.

Go buy a large oil funnel with a long, flexible spout. Also get a large
sponge (or more than one--enough to fill the window opening). Cut off the
pointy tip at the end of the spout. Repackage the remains into something
easy to pour from.

Fit the sponge into the window. With two people in the airplane, take off.
Close all the vents. While one person flies at a comfortable slow-flight
speed, the other works the spout of the funnel past the sponge (maybe have a
spare sponge?). Open the vents. This should create a suction through the
funnel. Pour the remains into the funnel.

As I stated once before, I'm not a ghoul. This showed up at a time when my
mother was very sick and her wishes are to have her ashes scattered by air.

Dave Reinhart


tony roberts wrote:

> I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
> My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
> him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
> from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
> volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
> asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
>
> Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> agree.
>
> An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
> down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
> the horizontal stab and take us with him.
>
> Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
> result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.
>
> A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
> create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.
>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
>
> --
>
> Tony Roberts
> PP-ASEL
> VFR OTT
> Night
> Almost Instrument :)
> Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Tim Hogard]

tony roberts ) wrote:
: I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
: My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
: him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
: from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live.

Others have posted ways to do this.

Take a pair of eye protection goggles with you. I recomend the ones
you find for use in chemistry classes that are completley sealed.

You don't wany any of the ashes to blow back in your face.

-tim
http://web.abnormal.com

[Model Flyer]

"Tim Hogard" > wrote in message
...
> tony roberts ) wrote:

> Others have posted ways to do this.
>
> Take a pair of eye protection goggles with you. I recomend the
ones
> you find for use in chemistry classes that are completley sealed.
>
> You don't wany any of the ashes to blow back in your face.
>

If doing this to finally get rid of a not so loved one - always on
your case - and the ashes did blow back in your face, that person
would always be up you nose, for the rest of your life.:-)
--
---
Cheers,
Jonathan Lowe.
/
don't bother me with insignificiant nonsence such as spelling,
I don't care if it spelt properly
/
Sometimes I fly and sometimes I just dream about it.
:-)


> -tim
> http://web.abnormal.com

[Lynn Melrose]

x-no-archive: yes


tony roberts wrote:

> I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
> My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
> him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
> from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
> volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
> asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
>
> Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> agree.
>
> An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
> down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
> the horizontal stab and take us with him.
>
> Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
> result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.
>
> A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
> create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.
>
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.

The best method I have seen was using a plane with an STC'd camera port in
the floor. In this case it was a C-182. Some plumbing was constructed to
make a tight fit over the port, and at the appropriate time a simple valve
was opened. I believe Avweb or one of the similar publications had an
article about this subject.

[mike regish]

Do a search in the rec.aviation newsgroups archive. It's been discussed
before, but it's been quite a while. I believe the tube and funnel method
worked pretty well. I would think you'd want the tube long enough to get
below the horizontal stab. I guess that ask can be pretty gritty and you
don't want it in your hinges. A little duct tape and tubing and you're good.

mike regish

"Lynn Melrose" > wrote in message
...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
>
> tony roberts wrote:
>
> > I appear to have volunteered for a task I know nothing about.
> > My friend who owns a Cherokee was approached by a neighbour who advised
> > him that his father was dying and has asked that his ashes be scattered
> > from an aircraft over a rural area near where I live. My friend
> > volunteered, then thought that a high wing may do the job better, and
> > asked me if I would do it in my 172 - in a weak moment I agreed.
> >
> > Throwing the sealed bag out of the window is an appealing option for its
> > simplicity, but I doubt that next of kin or persons on terra firma would
> > agree.
> >
> > An open bag, thrown out of the window may or may not empty on its way
> > down - not reliable enough. Also I don't want the dear departed to hit
> > the horizontal stab and take us with him.
> >
> > Tipping the contents of the bag out of the window would, I suspect,
> > result in the contents siphoning back into the cockpit.
> >
> > A tube hanging out of the window, with a funnel at the top? That may
> > create a venturi effect and cleanly suck the ashes out of the plane.
> >
> > Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> > How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
>
> The best method I have seen was using a plane with an STC'd camera port in
> the floor. In this case it was a C-182. Some plumbing was constructed to
> make a tight fit over the port, and at the appropriate time a simple valve
> was opened. I believe Avweb or one of the similar publications had an
> article about this subject.
>

[Brien K. Meehan]

tony roberts > wrote in message news:<nospam-A53B13.21060101122003@shawnews>...
> Has anyone ever disposed of cremated remains from a light plane?
> How did you do it? All suggestions/ideas gratefully received.

I found this link:
http://www.trailsendaerialdispersion.com/index.html

Has anyone tried one of these?