World Record Attempt - Unicyclists Towing Plane - Possible?

[annaats]

Hiya,

So after some discussions with a fundraiser for the RAF Association, we think it would be awesome if we could arrange for unicyclists to tow a plane or similar. While she looks in to seeing if it can be arranged, I want to find out if anyone thinks it is possible.

Following the previous ideas thread I believe it was Tholub who said it is possible. What opinions do the rest of you have on it? Any scientific evidence to prove it's chances? How would it be done? (Sorry for all the questions, but I'm no scientist!!)

Also - (if it happens) Who's in? (based on it being in London, some time this year)

Thanks!

[unicus]

Tholub did say my suggestion was possible and although he didn't qualify it I'd now have to agree purely on the 'why not' basis. I'd suggest though seeing how many unicyclists it would take to tow a car/van or something and then 'scaling up' the numbers to a plane. Also contacting some other charities that have done the towing plane thing to see what was involved.

And if this does happen and the date is OK for me I'd be up for it.

[rob.northcott]

I did some quick searching and found quite a few references to tug-o-war teams of 20 people pulling passenger jets (Boeing 727 I think). Assuming unicyclists couldn't get as much purchase on the ground as a person on foot, and that not all of them will be big heavy rugby players, I'd guess you'd need something like twice as many, so in the region of 50.

Of course, it depends what plane is used - a little Cessna or something is quite easy to push around with one person on smooth ground. A fighter-type-thing is somewhere between the two extremes.

Gary's suggestion of trying it with a car sounds a good start. But saying that, I reckon I could pull my car on my own on flat tarmac - it's easy enough to push around in the garage. They have lorry-pulling competitions on strong-man contests - OK, they're really strong, but it's only one person. If the tyres are pumped up nice and hard and the bearings are good, in theory it shouldn't be hard to move - just *very* slow acceleration for something as heavy as a lorry or plane.

Oh, and if I can get to London on the chosen date I'm up for it.

Rob

[Eddbmxdude]

Im up for towing a plane!
I'll bring the 12"


EDIT: How about we're all on 12"s?

[tholub]

I don't know how many unicyclists it would take, but towing things on a unicycle isn't that difficult. I've ridden into and out of SF Bay towing a kayak via a chest strap; it wasn't even that hard. It'll probably be easier to do it via something connected to your body than something connected to the unicycle. For me, compensating for towing something was almost automatic.

It'll just be a matter of figuring out the average unicyclist's towing capacity, figuring out how much a plane weighs, and getting enough unicyclists. They'll have to be decent unicyclists; getting started will probably be challenging. I'd recommend at least two rows, so people can hold hands to balance each other. Once the thing is moving, it'll be easy.

[aklyatne]

With enough advance warning of when it would be, I'd gladly go I'd just have to get plane tickets and such.

[Danny Colyer]

Originally Posted by tholub

I don't know how many unicyclists it would take, but towing things on a unicycle isn't that difficult. I've ridden into and out of SF Bay towing a kayak via a chest strap; it wasn't even that hard.

I think the biggest problem will be co-ordinating everyone to pull together. From my experience of participating in the Tunbridge Wells Pantiles annual sedan chair race as part of a unicycle team, I think it's going to be difficult. My gut feeling is that it's doable, though, and getting everyone towing together will probably be easier than getting 4 unicyclists to all ride in the same direction while carrying a sedan chair.