Scattering ashes anyone have experience using Mooney

[RocketAviator]

Any input appreciated

[DS1980]

Understand the air currents around your airplane. Having a loved ones ashes swirling around the cockpit is distracting for you and may be disheartening for any members of the family with you. You will also be vacuuming your carpet for weeks.

Not knowing the circumstance, I would very politely refuse. Some folks find closure in doing it themselves.

[rdav]

I would never have thought to do this,but it looks like it's actually a popular option. Check this website out http://www.ajourneywithwings.com/about-a-journey-with-wings/scatter-ashes/. They don't recommend doing this yourself by airplane, but may be able to offer advice if you decide to go that route.

[mooniac15u]

A friend tried this in his Bonanza and it sanded the paint off the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer.

[carusoam]

We have a thread on this topic from a while back...

Try this...

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/11815-scattering-ashes/?hl=ashes

It is often a good route to seek professional assistance on something that may be so important.

Hope that helps...

Best regards,

-a-

[WardHolbrook]

This has been discussed ad nausium on several different websites. It is a procedure which looks deceptively easy, after all, how hard could it be to open the door and pour out a bunch of ash? Horror stories abound and I've heard my share of 1st hand experiences from friends and associates. Bottom line is this - It is something that has to be done correctly the first time. Mess it up and you're going to have one heck of a "disagreeable" and unpleasant mess to clean up and guaranteed, the family will not be happy with you. 

 

When it was proposed to me, I simply politely declined. There is little to be gained and a whole bunch of potential negatives. 

[ArtVandelay]

Try a flight test first, get some baby powder, open the pilot window, give it some left rudder, and slow down of course and see what happens, I would use a small amount in case it doesn't go as planned.

[bonal]

With all the Go Pro mounts you might rig something on the bottom of the tail that can hold a container that can be opened by pulling a cord. As for me I would respectfully decline.

[RocketAviator]

Bona that's exactly what I did. All worked great. Absolutely no problem. Came up with the idea, assembled the dispensing device, mounted it. Test flew dispensed some fireplace ashes. Removed the unit flew 1.75 hr to AZ, landed filled the dispenser with my father in laws remains, reassembled the device flew over his old ranch and dispensed the remains right on target no issues. Returned to the small airport, removed the dispenser, 1.7hr home. All went very well.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Fly safe

[RocketAviator]

carusoam, on 28 Nov 2014 - 7:28 PM, said:

What method did you use?

-a-

I came up the idea when after posting this request I saw an old mail tube that had plastic caps on each end on my mother in laws desk.

Using a section of that tube, two hose clamps, a short piece of 3/4 PVC, 2 3/4X1/2 T, 1/2 sch 80 nipple, some safety tie wire, small pulley, SS screw & washer, length of vinyl cloth line.

Mounted one end on tail tie down the other on the inspectin plate on the tail belly. Safety wired the ends just for a little extra security!

All in less than 2 hrs from idea to first test flight!

Was a success as I did not have a choice it was a promise my mother in law made to my deceased father in law.

[Bravoman]

A lot easier just to keep the dearly departed on the mantle!

[bonal]

Excellent job sir. Respect for keeping your promise.

[Piloto]

carusoam, on 28 Nov 2014 - 7:28 PM, said:

What method did you use?

-a-

I came up the idea when after posting this request I saw an old mail tube that had plastic caps on each end on my mother in laws desk.

Using a section of that tube, two hose clamps, a short piece of 3/4 PVC, 2 3/4X1/2 T, 1/2 sch 80 nipple, some safety tie wire, small pulley, SS screw & washer, length of vinyl cloth line.

Mounted one end on tail tie down the other on the inspectin plate on the tail belly. Safety wired the ends just for a little extra security!

All in less than 2 hrs from idea to first test flight!

Was a success as I did not have a choice it was a promise my mother in law made to my deceased father in law.

 

Did you have FAA FSDO approval and ATC clearance for this?

 

Wouldn't be easier just to put the ashes in a small paper bag and dump it through the pilot's window?

 

A family tradition we have is to plant an avocado tree together with the ashes. Next to the tree is a small plaque with the name of the relative. The growing tree and its fruit gives you a sense of connection and mutual caring.

 

José

[RocketAviator]

Did you have FAA FSDO approval and ATC clearance for this?

Wouldn't be easier just to put the ashes in a small paper bag and dump it through the pilot's window?

A family tradition we have is to plant an avocado tree together with the ashes. Next to the tree is a small plaque with the name of the relative. The growing tree and its fruit gives you a sense of connection and mutual caring.

José

Jose,

Better than FAA FSDO approval! Mother in law approval, and a promise kept!

We did in fact load up 10 small paper bags but I had issues with the possibility of damage to the plane if one of the bags hit the plane control surfaces. We dumped all the bags into the dispensing mechanism.

In the end all went well!

I do like your family tradition!

[yvesg]

Lacee, our condoleances to you and Billie. Diane just lost her mother this week. We will pick her ashes on Tuesday. She did not ask for aerial dispersal.

Yves

[RobertGary1]

Try a flight test first, get some baby powder, open the pilot window, give it some left rudder, and slow down of course and see what happens, I would use a small amount in case it doesn't go as planned.

Human ashes can come in various consistencies. Some mortuaries will allow you to request more granular remains but generally there are pieces of bone. Human ashes make a pretty impressive abrasive. The challenge of a test is to get something similar in consistency. I don't think baby powder is close.

[RocketAviator]

Human ashes can come in various consistencies. Some mortuaries will allow you to request more granular remains but generally there are pieces of bone. Human ashes make a pretty impressive abrasive. The challenge of a test is to get something similar in consistency. I don't think baby powder is close.

We used fireplace ashes and corn meal to test, they were only somewhat similar.  Not as dense in either case.  Also one of my engineers who is also a Pilot stated he was personally knowledgeable on human ash remains and that almost all crematoriums use a filler of some sort, he said what it was but I don't recall what it was.  The filler is used in order to make a more consistent larger volume output!!!  Customer Expectation is what he called it!

The device and process we used worked well, no problems, no ashes in the cockpit, no damage to the plane, no hassle at all as far as I was concerned.

[Marauder]

This thread reminds me of a buddy who went to scatter his uncle's ashes. His uncle flew bombers in WWII and the family thought it would have been a great tribute to him.

He scattered the ashes out of the window of his 172. The next time I saw him, I asked how it went. He replied "My uncle will always be flying with me"

[BobAustin]

Speaking of someone always flying with you...

 

When Al Mooney died, Roy LoPresti and I decided to scatter his ashes above the Kerrville Mooney factory.  

As you may guess a significant portion of Al Mooney flies with me in N211ZN to this day !!

 

Bob