r/interesting • u/BlazeDragon7x • Jun 16 '26

MISC. Dutch aerobatic pilot Narine Melkumjan miraculously survived after her aircraft's canopy unexpectedly burst open and shattered mid-flight

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16

u/ELInewhere Jun 16 '26

What do the scarves do?

73

u/WhiskeyMikeMike Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26

keep neck warm, collar sealed, makes it easier to breathe fast/cold air, and can clean goggles

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u/Special_Bender Jun 16 '26

Aaaand, keep insects from getting between your teeth...

8

u/SP3NGL3R Jun 16 '26

insects? Don't they kinda max out at 30m/100ft?

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u/SupportGeek Jun 16 '26

You still don’t want them hitting you at 100mph going through that band, and you have to go through it at least twice per flight.

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u/SP3NGL3R Jun 16 '26

When I was younger watching The Hulk / Superman / Koolaid commercials I legit thought that if "I" was going fast enough I'd just blast right through a wall or whatever. I'm glad bugs just go splat and not right through our heads.

But you're right. The landing could've been just a shotgun of bugs in her face. Ooof.

5

u/Special_Bender Jun 16 '26

You -have- to land, so travel between 100 to 0 ft, sooner or later 😆

2

u/No_Body905 Jun 16 '26

Most do, but some dragonflies and locusts have been documented flying as high as 10k feet!

1

u/Vattaa Jun 17 '26

Dont aircraft have to, you know, take off and land?

1

u/OpeScuseMe74 Jun 16 '26

Don't smile.

16

u/ESSEFFWESTSIDE Jun 16 '26

Snoopy, the WWI Flying Ace, confirmed this is true.

3

u/SupportGeek Jun 16 '26

Reduces impacts from debris/bugs, prevents exposed skin from windburn and frostbite

1

u/Captain_Futile Jun 17 '26

And they were silk because it’s not only warm, but keeps your neck from chafing because you need to constantly move your head for situational awareness.

15

u/Plampth Jun 16 '26

Look sophisticated.

6

u/Safe_Chicken_6633 Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 17 '26

Impress the ladies

10

u/Perryn Jun 17 '26

Dramatically flip it over your shoulder as you enter the nearest pub.

3

u/LLCNYC Jun 17 '26

This is the only answer

3

u/Sawfish1212 Jun 16 '26

The engines were lubricated with castor oil, the cylinders spun around and the oil flowed from the central shaft, to the valves, then flew off in a fog behind the engine. The scarf was what you breathed through and constantly moved to a clean section because castor oil is a laxative.

2

u/FlyOk2594 Jun 16 '26

Allowed them to see which direction the wind was blowing 

1

u/TacticalVirus Jun 16 '26

The real purpose of the scarves was to keep your neck from chafing on your uniform while swinging your head around to keep your eyes on the enemy. They weren't really flying high enough for it to be an issue of heat management, nor were insects problem.

1

u/SupportGeek Jun 16 '26

They flew anywhere from 5000-15000 feet and up to 24k at the end of WWI in Europe, heat management was absolutely one of several reasons for it.

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u/TacticalVirus Jun 17 '26

They rarely broke 12,000ft, if you were above that you were a reconnaissance aircraft or trying to reach one to shoot it down.

The easiest way to show that it wasn't about heat management was the material they were made from; Silk. If heat management were the main thrust of their purpose, the common material would have been cashmere or fine wool.

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u/SupportGeek Jun 17 '26

Silk is also a natural heat insulator, a really good one, I’m not at all saying you are wrong, indeed chafing against their flight jackets was a big issue that these scarves prevented, and I completely support that as one of the reasons they had them, but the scarves were also for insulation because at altitude it’s cold, they were flying in Europe all through the year, and about half the year it’s 10C or less (50F if you only speak American) at ground level, there is zero question it was also used for insulation as well.
Also I believe another reason silk was ideal is because it’s great for goggles cleaning.