Jose Luiz Moreira Garcia wrote:
> 
> I have noticed that mosquitos does not fly
> inside of the airplane when the airplane is in the air.
> I was observing several mosquitos inside a plane
> down here in Brazil and wondering what would be
> their actuall speed if they could fly inside a flying
> airplane and to my surprise all of them stayed still
> properly "landed" on the walls and appartently firmly
> secured after the plane took off and during all the remaining
> of the trip they stayed there reassuming their flying habits
> only after landing.

I have never observed mosquitos in an airplane. Nevertheless, I'd
say they would be flying in the same speed they would if the
airplane was landed. At least relative to the passangers
and the airplane itself. For the time being, I see no reason
for thinking their speed would be different (we don't
walk slower or faster when we are inside a flying airplane, do
we?)

On the other hand, it may well be the case that the low air
pressure,
lack of oxygen, and cold air inside a airplane render the
mosquitos lethargic.

We must bear in mind that air companies, in order to save money,
keep a very low rate of air exchange. This brings oxygen to very
low levels. Some death and many problems during or immediately
after flights can be traced to this oxygen deficit. Also
to save money, airplanes are never fully pressurized. They are
kept as if we were at altitude of about 2,100 m so oxygen partial
pressure is lower. Add these two factor together and we conclude
passangers (mosquitos included) can not afford to produce
dynamic energy (no oxygen, no energy!).

If your observation in that flight represents the reality for
every flight, then perhaps we should learn a lesson with the
mosquitos: hybernate during flights if cabin is pressurized. :-)

- fernando

keep us under
-- 
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to come
Fernando Cabral                        Padrao iX Sistemas Abertos
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