"DR" wrote in message
...
Dudley Henriques wrote:
"Blanche" wrote in message
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On 5/14/2007 2:03:24 AM, "Bravo Two Zero" wrote:

A small plane crashed into Lake Pleasant, just outside of Phoenix, at
approx 8pm Friday, while the pilot was reportedly talking on his
cellphone
and flying 10 feet above the water.
Can you have "ground effect" over water?

There's a great story about the crew of a Pan Am Stratocruiser I think it
was, who were low on fuel and a long way out over the ocean. They let
down to within a wingspan's distance over the water, leaned it back a
ton, played with the RPM, and made it home.
Can't remember the source of the story, but I do remember reading it a
long time ago.
Dudley Henriques

Maybe a true story but I think the the odds are they would have been much
better off at high altitude. As I understand it, induced drag is only
reduced by 10% at 50% of wing span above surface. At 20% of wing span
altitude the drag is still ~70% (Surface skimming birds actually go lower,
nearly touching the water with their wing tips). Of course if the
Stratocourser dropped to say 10' it could have worked
better... -kersplash!

Cheers MarkC

If I remember right, nobody reporting on the incident reflected on what they
might have done, only on what they actually did. They very well might have
optimized range at altitude.
I can't remember the specifics involved. Knowing the exact circumstances
would make it a lot more clear for those interested in making a judgment on
the incident I would imagine.
Dudley Henriques