Comments on: Taxi!

By: LC

LC — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:52:54 +0000

This was in response to several airlines announcing a couple weeks ago that they would be “slowing planes down” to save fuel IE trim 35MPH off crusing speeds, trips go up by 15-20 minutes but total fuel prices drop by millions; as well as avoiding idling on the runway waiting for takeoff - if your engine’s on you are moving. Thiis comic is probably pointing out that planes were meant to be FAST and better than cars, but now they are more like busses.

By: Ladybird

Ladybird — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:29:38 +0000

Even if the plane’s mileage was only 1/50th of a car’s mileage, as long as there are more than 50 people on the plane it would be cheaper.

By: Charlene

Charlene — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:45:09 +0000

“I agree with Lola, Ithink it’s probably a look at rising fuel prices, planes are just driving down the highway instead of flying, because it’s cheaper.”

Except that jet aircraft expend FAR more fuel per mile on the ground as compared to in the air, up to fifty times as much for some aircraft.

By: Ladybird

Ladybird — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:59:38 +0000

I figured that there was so much of a backup for takeoffs at the airport that it was just faster for the plane to drive it (even though this slowed the highway traffic down).

This reminds me of one time when I flew out of the Chattanooga airport (that was a 110-mile drive from home) so I could avoid a 3-hour layover on the return trip and arrive home earlier on a Sunday night (I only lived about 10 expressway miles from the Knoxville, TN airport). On the trip out I ended up breaking about even. But on the return trip we sat in the plane on the runway in Atlanta for 3 hours (breathing that horrible exhaust-laden recycled air), so I still took off from Atlanta at the time I would’ve on the original flight - and still had a 90-minute drive home when I landed! I probably would’ve made better time if we’d taxied the whole way on the interstate.

By: eeyore19

eeyore19 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:09:36 +0000

Nope, the 405 movie was the first thing that came to my mind, too.

And isn’t it possible that the traffic is backed up because of *another* plane doing the same thing up ahead?

By: pepperjackcandy

pepperjackcandy — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:02:48 +0000

Am I the only person who immediately thought of 405: The Movie?

By: Catlover

Catlover — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:04:24 +0000

But if the plane is itself causing the backup, wouldn’t the traffic be BEHIND the place, and therefore not affecting the plane’s ability to taxi? As planes tend to taxi at 20 knots or so, it wouldn’t be pushing a car at 65 mph.

By: Keera

Keera — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:32:51 +0000

I thought taxiing –> taxi, and a lightbulb moment (probably a warning light) in the cockpit: Hey, if we’re just driving this thing down some pavement, why not just get on the darned freeway like a real taxi? 2 hours in traffic beats a 6-hour delay waiting to take off, right?

By: Erica Bickel

Erica Bickel — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:29:13 +0000

I agree with Lola, Ithink it’s probably a look at rising fuel prices, planes are just driving down the highway instead of flying, because it’s cheaper.

By: Lola

Lola — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:05:41 +0000

I’m sure that a jet uses huge amounts less fuel while taxiing than during any part of flight, except maybe the actual landing part. Sooooooo, maybe the joke is that airlines are trying to save money any way they can and becoming essentially a ground based bus service seemed like a good idea to somebody. And yes, it would appear that the pictured plane is the culprit.