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