Opinion: Advancements in airplanes boggle passengers' minds

The scenario: You are among more than 100 passengers waiting to be herded aboard an airplane. Outside the airport window, you watch a huge mountain of luggage get loaded into the bottom of the aircraft. Most passengers have heavy carry-on bags that will be stuffed into spaces above the seats. A lot of weighty jet fuel will be used to get to your destination. It’s a no-brainer: this airplane is going to be heavy.

As these variables float through your head, you decide: “No way can they get this big thing off the ground!” After it does get off the ground and is soaring at 30,000 feet, a new thought: “What’s keeping us up here?” Imagine the thoughts passing through the heads of passengers on the newly announced Airbus aircraft that will carry 550 passengers. Say what?

The great thing about flying is that your doubts were for naught; the mammoth airplane gets up and down safely.

Actually, I feel safer flying across country than I do driving across it, playing 80-mph bumper tag with trucks and cars. Now that’s scary.

Short history

Advances in modern airplanes of all types are remarkable considering the relatively short history of aviation.

Compare the smooth takeoff of the jumbo airliner with the takeoff of the Wright Brother’s craft at Kitty Hawk a mere century ago. By the way, folks also doubted the Wright’s invention would get off the ground. To reach the speed for the flimsy craft to become airborne, ropes were fastened to each wing allowing two men to pull the airplane forward.

Aviation has come a long way in a short time.

As time-saving and convenient as it may be, flying isn’t always the joyous portrait airline TV commercials may paint. Earlier, I mentioned being herded aboard an airliner. Truth be told, folks with herd instincts are at an advantage. From the moment we enter the airport for departure until claiming the luggage, we are herded through airports, onto and off of airplanes and back into airports. It’s a lot easier if you go along with the herd.

Terrorist threats have made security checks a challenge. Since I have an implanted heart device that would play havoc with the metal detectors, and the metal-detecting wands they might use instead would play havoc with my machine, I get to go through an up-close-and-personal search, offering absolute proof that I pose no danger to anyone.

Airport security may be a hassle, but it’s a necessity. Once in the air, I want to feel sure that no nincompoop with a warped agenda has slipped a weapon or explosives past security.

Good and bad

Springfield’s airport is a pleasant place. Some airports are intimidating, cavernous facilities, more like indoor cities than places where passengers arrive and depart.

Larger airports have trains that move people to what seems to be the next county. Restaurants and stores of all sorts are plentiful. The herd mentality eases the crowded journey through airports.

Once herded aboard the aircraft, the space allotted to each individual is minuscule. I’m a relatively small person, and I don’t fit very well onto the slight opening laughingly called a seating space.

A few hours of sitting with knees resting on one’s chin may lead to new thoughts: You imagine sitting up front in the plush comfort of first class. In my imagination, I think about leading an insurrection against the opulent first-class passengers, seizing for myself one of the soft, wide, comfortable seats with enough legroom to stretch out. Don’t try to kid me – a few hours of impersonating a pretzel have caused you to harbor thoughts of a first-class uprising.

Alas, flying is the quickest and probably the safest way to get from here to there. For that, I can abide being part of the herd.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.