# Flying over Iceland. Was it dangerous, and was this picture worth it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 19, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656 "2010-04-19T19:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/1 "2010-04-19T19:48:35Z")
[Me, I say, woo.](http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/1004/icevolcano_fulle.jpg) Tris ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/2 "2010-04-19T19:53:17Z")
That looks like a still from a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Great photo. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/3 "2010-04-19T20:03:27Z")
Best new wallpaper my computer has seen in a long time. Profuse thanks offered. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/4 "2010-04-19T20:07:34Z")
Wow! That is amazing! Nice job, **Triskadecamus**! Did you take the shot? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/5 "2010-04-19T20:33:34Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Did you take the shot? No, [Astronomy picture of the day.](http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html) ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/6 "2010-04-19T20:34:53Z")
WOW. I need to update my definition of ‘spectacular.’ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/7 "2010-04-19T20:37:10Z")
They showed that and a couple of others on the Weather Channel yesterday. Now _that_ is spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/8 "2010-04-23T22:35:51Z")
Ah, lightning, spewing ash, searing flames and _snow_. I guess it beats the simple lightning, spewing ash and searing flames combination. Sorry [Mount Chaiten](http://www.physorg.com/news157210366.html). ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/9 "2010-04-23T22:38:30Z")
Wow. Fuck yeah, it was worth it. ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/10 "2010-04-23T23:17:26Z")
This is on another website (Chive?) with the caption “One does not simply ‘fly’ into Iceland” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/11 "2010-04-23T23:45:51Z")
Sure, it’s safe as long as you don’t fly into the ash cloud, avoid air turbulence, and stay away from lightning. Given that the air in the foreground appears very clear the pilot probably wasn’t pushing the envelope too hard. Probably approached from upwind. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/12 "2010-04-24T00:27:52Z")
Yep, new desktop photo, thank you very much! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/13 "2010-04-24T01:22:44Z")
Variations on a theme: [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/21/article-1267663-0939D67A000005DC-119_634x822.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/21/article-1267663-0939D67A000005DC-119_634x822.jpg) [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/20/article-0-09342CAF000005DC-516_964x911.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/20/article-0-09342CAF000005DC-516_964x911.jpg) > **[US](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/)** > > From the US election and Biden's presidency, to gun control and abortion rights; stay up-to-date with the latest lines and comment with The Telegraph. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/14 "2010-04-24T01:56:08Z")
Whoa!!! Way cool. Thanks for sharing, **Tris**. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/15 "2010-04-24T14:11:57Z")
recent news story: [Why it’s possible to fly near Iceland’s volcano](http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Features/2010/04/21/13671866-ap.html) > [@](#): > > The wind that carries the ash in a southeast direction means aircraft — mostly helicopters — can approach the volcano from the northwest. If those winds are accompanied by clear weather, the Helicopter Service of Iceland feels comfortable taking passengers to get a view, said Sindri Steingrimsson, the company’s director of flight operations. > > The ash poses less of a danger for helicopters and propellor airplanes than it does for modern jet engines. Iceland’s Coast Guard sent propellor airplanes far above the volcano and brought photographers along for some of the missions. The Coast Guard aircraft is equipped with heat sensors and radar to detect trouble, said Gudruw Nina Petersen, a meteorologist at the Icelandic Met Office. > > “They’re not doing anything that is not 100 percent safe,” Petersen said. > > Wind direction was crucial, allowing planes with photographers to approach from the northwest. The international airport that serves Reykjavik, about two hours west of the volcano, has seen no service disruptions for any flights not in the affected European regions. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/16 "2010-04-24T16:12:26Z")
Wow… every now and then, a photo just leaves me speechless, and this one sure did. I am another with a new wallpaper today. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/17 "2010-04-24T16:43:51Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Best new wallpaper my computer has seen in a long time. Profuse thanks offered. That was my first too! (Behind cute pics of my daughter, that is.) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/18 "2010-04-24T17:33:02Z")
Dammit Mr. Frodo - throw the Ring in already!! ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/19 "2010-04-25T12:36:17Z")
That ain’t Mordor. That there is _Ragnarök_. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656/20 "2010-04-25T14:05:10Z")
Breathtaking. Thanks for posting this! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-over-iceland-was-it-dangerous-and-was-this-picture-worth-it/536656.md?page=2)