Think He Went Through Security First?

Probably thought he'd make it. Most don't realize that the oxygen/air is very thin making survivable unlikely, although the below freezing temperatures must preserve the body to a degree (like suspended animation). Otherwise, previous stowaways wouldn't have made it. That number is very, very low - almost everyone dies. But occasionally, some do make it.

 

The -60 celcius temps will probably ensure you don't make it as this is a 13 hour trip......and if that doesn't do it, once they get over 14,000' ASL you don't have sufficient survivable oxygen for your brain to function, and hypoxia soon sets in after a few minutes. Very rare that someone survives even after being in the ICU for days afterwards.

 

So if i had a -60 sleeping bag and an oxygen tank, i could possibly make it?

 

It would have to be one huge o2 tank and do you have a link for a sleeping bag that is rated for -60 C ?????

 

I have experienced both hypoxia and -40 deg F and it is an easy way to go. You don't know it is happening. Except for some discomfort of the cold at first.

 

Pointing this question in the general direction of Mr. Parks...

Given the pressure and therefore temperature differentials of the cabin and the exterior of a commercial passenger jet, is there significant heat conduction from the parts of an airframe that make up the fuselage, and the rest of the bits on the airframe? And what, if any, metallurgic or structural design elements compensate for this conduction? Or is it even a consideration?

 

Well, I wasn't in an insulated environment so I have to assume that the temperature in the insulated cabin of the 777 had no effect on the temp in the wheelwell. Exposed to the ambient temperatures coming into wheelwell and the almost total lack of oxygen in a very short time, the unfortunate hitchhiker didn't have long to realize his mistake. I can't imagine that he escaped being crushed by the landing gear truck because there isn't that much space in there when everything is tucked up. My experience occurred at 26K and -40 without oxy for about five minutes as far as I can calculate. I never knew it. It doesn't take long for numbness and sleep to take over.

 

I think that this has happened at least 5 or 6 times and very few survive it if any. I know of one occasion where one body dropped out of the wheelwell when the main gear was extended.