Duncan,
I couldn't agree more. In aviation if we were to go to the m/s concept then
our airspeed indicators would also have to change to m/s and our
aeronautical charts would have to change to meters. Our fuel consumption
rates would have to be in L/s, or kg/s or even more ridiculous g/s.
I just can't wait to make the announcement on a JFK to LAX run:
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen
This is your Captain speaking
We have just reached our cruising altitude of 12 000 meters
the outside air temperature is -57^C
We have just 3 785 488 meters to our destination
And our present speed is 248 m/s
So we'll be arriving in LA in about 15 264 seconds
and for those of you who are really interested we are burning approx
1L/84m
Thankyou for your attention
We hope you have a pleasant flight
Regards
Baron Carter
-----Original Message-----
From: Duncan Bath [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, 24 January, 2002 12:00
To: U.S. Metric Association
Cc: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:17608] Re: Wind speed
If we want to delay [indefinitely?] the acceptance of SI by the public, we
could do little better than emphasize the scientific/engineering viewpoint.
*People* want to schedule thier driving by knowing how far they can go in
an hour or a day not a second. They insist on an a land-area measure
comparable to an acre. They will accept litres, but not cubic decimetres.
Let's keep a human face on our favorite measuring system even if that face
has a wart or two.
Duncan
-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Mechtly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: U.S. Metric Association <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: January 23, 2002 22:49
Subject: [USMA:17595] Re: Wind speed
>Pat,
>
>I strongly support your advocacy of m/s for speed, but for all speeds,
>not just for wind, aircraft, and for ships at sea.
>
>My extraction of some of your words more exclusively favors m/s only.
>
>Gene.
>...................
>On Wed, 23 Jan 2002, Pat Naughtin wrote:
>>
>> ... It is one of the key areas of metrication for the aeronautics and
>> seagoing industries � so we should get it right. ...
>
>> The SI unit for wind speed is metres per second, and its SI symbol is
>> m/s. ... appropriate SI prefix ... gives possibilities such as
>> ... kilometres per second (km/s). ...
>
>> ... It would be best if we used the SI unit � only � ...
>
