# how should superman stop a plane from crashing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951 "2016-09-14T18:01:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/21 "2016-09-15T00:14:16Z")
Although the airframe can support a fully loaded aircraft (distrubtd across the wings and through the wingbox in flight, and concentrated on the landing gear while stationary or taxiing on the ground) I don’t think there is any structure on the aircraft that could support the entire weight concentrated into the 20 in[SUP]2[/SUP] or so of area of his hands. Clearly, Superman should have a bunch of (presumably also gravitokinetically powered) children who he can then employ to help distribute the reaction forces on the airplane structure. Which, of course, renders this into [an entirely new and potentially intractable problem](http://www.rawbw.com/~svw/superman.html). As viewers of the MCU films are discovering, superpowers don’t so much to solve problems as to just generate entirely new ones with bigger consequences. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/22 "2016-09-15T00:59:34Z")
Fly under the plane, facing towards the plane. Then blow upward with an increasing intensity to slow the descent of the plane. Then assuming the pilot has turned off the engines, redirect the airstream to also bring the plane to a hover. Once hovering over the Man of Steel, he lands on his back and slowly lets the plane down by decreasing his super breath. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/23 "2016-09-15T01:32:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > … On top of all that he’d have to fly backward which would blow his cape up over his head and that would be stupid looking. Oh, come on, you know he would be flying backward on his back, like a swimmer doing a backstroke. His cape would be under him. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/24 "2016-09-15T01:48:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It depends on just why the plane is crashing, of course. But in most crash situations, the plane is still going to be generating at least some lift, so he won’t need to support _all_ of the weight at one point. > All of the wheels combined can certainly do it, but I don’t see how you conclude that the front wheel alone can. For some reason, I was thinking that planes come down on their front wheel first. I don’t know why I was thinking that, when it’s the norm to land ass first. But I do suspect that the front tire can take it. It seems like a good feature to have if the plane has to land nose-first for whatever reason. Plus, due to inertia, the wheels are going to need to take a bit more than just the rest weight of the plane, so they should be engineered accordingly (though, the rear two more-so). ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/25 "2016-09-15T01:51:17Z")
An alternate solution would be to fly around and just mildly tap each inch of the underside of the plane with a pound or two of pressure. This would effectively distribute the load across the full surface and, done at super-speed, provide sufficient lift. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/26 "2016-09-15T02:45:56Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > But given his speed, couldn’t he just fly superfast around the plane and pat it gently in like 10 billion places, each pat slowing it down just a little bit? hmm > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > An alternate solution would be to fly around and just mildly tap each inch of the underside of the plane with a pound or two of pressure. This would effectively distribute the load across the full surface and, done at super-speed, provide sufficient lift. DUDE! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/27 "2016-09-15T02:56:37Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If he does that then Lois dies. Strike that; reverse it. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/28 "2016-09-15T03:27:06Z")
I’ve got a great, completely original idea, how about if superman pats the plane on every point of the plane to distribute the force equally. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/29 "2016-09-15T03:30:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > He should take his super-stretchy cape and make for a cradle for the plane, so he can support it from above. Maybe he could throw his [S](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DbTGT03Z40) at it? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/30 "2016-09-15T03:33:06Z")
He attaches his LSH flight ring to the plane and with super will lifts it up!! Come on, this is a guy who moves planets! I’m running out of his tedious ways for him to do this. With super-ventriliquism he makes Bizarro keep running around trying to find him! This creates a super updraft saving the plane! “Here Bizarro! No. Over here! No here!!” ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/31 "2016-09-15T03:58:32Z")
Project the plane into the Phantom Zone, where 1000 years later, Brainiac V could figure out how to save them. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/32 "2016-09-15T05:09:43Z")
Well, we all know that planes crash because they are angry or depressed. Superman (played by Owen Wilson) could talk to the plane and convince it to land safely, or at least do a soft bellyflop that would not kill any passengers. What, has no one here seen _Dark Star_? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/33 "2016-09-15T11:04:46Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > hmm > > DUDE! Oi, no flying back in time to make posts before me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/34 "2016-09-15T14:29:31Z")
While a plane does land on only some of the wheels at first, that doesn’t mean that those wheels are supporting the full weight of the plane. Just think about why it’s only on those wheels in the first place: Because it’s still mostly supported by the wings. The only time a plane is entirely supported by the wheels is when it’s at rest, and by then it’s on all of its wheels. Though it wouldn’t surprise me too much to learn that the engineering safety margins are enough to support all of the weight on one set of wheels, anyway. Note, also, that Superman also doesn’t need to support it just with his hands. He could cradle it against his entire body. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/35 "2016-09-15T15:06:13Z")
I hope this discussion doesn’t put anyone off flying. Statistically speaking, it’s still the safest way to travel. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/36 "2016-09-15T15:50:30Z")
What about a tread mill, could he put the plane on one of those? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/37 "2016-09-15T15:59:24Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > What about a tread mill, could he put the plane on one of those? Thread winner. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/38 "2016-09-15T16:23:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Thread winner. I’ve been waiting 16 years for that to happen. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/39 "2016-09-15T17:10:48Z")
We’re thinking about this all wrong. The problem isn’t the falling, it’s the hitting the ground. Solution: Get rid of the ground. Supe digs out a giant tunnel in the Earth ahead of where the plane is going to crash. Heat vision, superstrength, whatever. He just has to keep digging, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951/40 "2016-09-15T17:23:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > All that weight will be supported on the square area of two palms. I don’t think the metal can take it. This I don’t buy. He can press his entire body against the plane, like a person lying on a mattress either face-up or face-down. The total surface area could be, I dunno… eight to ten square feet? Still not ideal, of course, but if he levels the plane off gradually, kept it moving fast enough to let it generate lift on its own, he could smooth out its path and try to aim for a runway or runway-like surface. The first episode of the new _Supergirl_ series features this exact scenario. She damages the plane somewhat to keep it from crashing into a bridge and manages a rough but intact water landing. The jet looked like an Airbus 340 (four engines, no upper deck), which is not actually flown by any airline operating in North America, it seems. The plane was “bound for Geneva” suggesting it was at or near the start of its trip and presumably fully fueled. It had been circling for some time, though, already damaged, and may have dumped some its fuel. Its weight could be anywhere from ~300,000 to ~800,000 lbs. She does, however, lift the plane using just her palms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-superman-stop-a-plane-from-crashing/765951.md?page=3)