4 ms·
Deep vein thrombosis is already a problem on 10+ hour flights. They really should have small gyms with bookable time (just a exercise bicycle maybe) I've done
by emmelaich 9y ago
Deep vein thrombosis is already a problem on 10+ hour flights.
They really should have small gyms with bookable time (just a exercise bicycle maybe)
I've done the Sydney/Europe route quite a few times. The break in Asia does help; just to have a one hour walk around. As does first class! (did it once)
- enraged_camel 9y agoGetting up and walking around the cabin mitigates that. I usually walk several laps from front to back every few hours, and it's not an issue because most people tend to be asleep.
- wenc 9y agoIt's easier to do that if you're in the aisle seat and not too many other people have the same idea. I've been on many transpacific flights where enough people do it at the same time and all the aisles are blocked.
- oskarth 9y agoThat's when you synchronize. Tell all the people to walk clockwise, just like in a swimming lane once more than two people are in it.
- stephengillie 9y agoEach row could have a turn to do a few push-ups and sit-ups in the aisles, and then a quick jog around the jail yard...err cabin.
- dx034 9y agoI flew with China Eastern from SYD to FRA with stop in Shanghai. They did exercise programs for the whole cabin twice on each flight. I've never seen that before but it was certainly helpful!
- remarkEon 9y agoAgree. It's an interesting technical challenge to ask for planes that can fly these long routes at present speeds, but I think we're solving the wrong problem. The problem is speed, not fuel efficiency.
- ars 9y agoCan't really go faster because we're already about 80% of the speed of sound. Going any closer to the speed of sound than that dramatically increases drag. Going higher (for less drag) is a problem because it's hard to keep the engines running in the thin air, and on top of that, high speed also makes it hard to keep them running. Until we figure out a new engine design, 80% of the speed of sound is about the max. Military engines get around this by consuming incredible amounts of fuel - not practical for commercial flights.
- willyt 9y agoI can't find a source that doesn't involve doing a lot of maths but I think a significant proportion of the fuel used by Concorde was taxiing, takeoff and climb out. In supercruise Concorde used less fuel than an 80's era 747 albeit carrying ~1/3 passengers but also for ~1/3 of the time. You just need a way to get you to 60000ft efficiently!
- will_hughes 9y agoEven if you could, you can only go supersonic across oceans.
- chx 9y agoIf you could go Mach 2-3 then going above the Isthmus of Panama makes sense. It is only 33% longer http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=LHR-pty-syd&MS=wls2 http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=LHR-pty-syd&MS=wls2 http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=LHR-SYD http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=LHR-SYD and almost all of it is over an ocean.
- rwmj 9y ago
- jawngee 9y agoI got a DVT on a flight from Saigon -> NYC. Fell asleep for 9 hours with my leg folded under me. DVT is gone now, but still dealing with the repercussions. I ended up getting Schamberg's disease as a side effect of Xarelto, so both of my legs look like they're covered in a rash. I have some vascular inefficiency issues in my left leg that become prominent if I sit for more than 30 minutes. Good times /s
- quickthrower2 9y agoThat's horrible. I've never slept that long on a flight though. Did you take a pill to sleep that long?
- jawngee 9y agoNo, I had just had a kid and was sleep deprived for the two days leading up to the flight. Once I fall asleep, I can sleep through anything.