# Flying pigeons in a plane.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-pigeons-in-a-plane/390268
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [January 31, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-pigeons-in-a-plane/390268 "2007-01-31T15:01:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-pigeons-in-a-plane/390268/1 "2007-01-31T15:01:06Z")
Regarding this Cecil colum:
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_144.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_144.html)
I would like to point out that airplanes do have an “open window” while in flight.
You can take a look at it here:
> **[The Boeing 737 Pressurisation System](http://www.b737.org.uk/pressurisation.htm)**
>
> Technical website for Boeing 737 pilots and engineers. Site includes news, system and operating notes, technical photographs, databases and related links.
(scroll about halfways down to Main Outflow Valve)
Pressurization is maintained by pumping “bleed air” from the engines to the cabin which replaces the air exiting through the MOV.
This may be, of course, old news. It is just that this column was linked to on a thread discussing something else and it linked to the column which made no mention of this fact. The thread is question:
> **[Really stupid question about either physics, math or philosophy...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405986)**
>
> Y’know when your kid asks you something that seems really easy and then you go…errr…gibber gibber gibber…and he calls you on it? Yeah, I need to rebuild some cred here. Situation: I have a 20 pound toddler. She has a 2 pound backpack. If she wears...
This means, according to what I understand of Cecil’s column, that a flying pigeon would reduce the weight of the plane (a passenger sitting on another’s lap wouldn’t, of course 😉 )
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### Author:  [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-pigeons-in-a-plane/390268/2 "2007-02-01T01:15:19Z")
Well…
A lot depends on whether the pigeon takes off from a treadmill and whether it bobs its head.
Never mind me; carry on.
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### Author:  [@john\_cantillon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john_cantillon)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-pigeons-in-a-plane/390268/3 "2007-02-02T23:54:17Z")
what if you throw a greater weight into the air like a space shuttle or bodies jumping into air inside plane in their dozens ?