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[Akura]

Woah, a huge plane with four propellers flying really low passed overhead o_O
I wonder why they use propellers...

Propellers are more fuel-efficient than jet engines.

Plus, 4 propellers means 4 engines, meaning you'd lose only 25% of your potential power if one fails, as opposed to 50% with a 2-engine plane, and ohshitgoingtodie with a single-engine plane.

[10ebbor10]

Also, turboprops are better at low speed/altitude flights. Much more stable and less noisy.

[Skyrunner]

Also, turboprops are better at low speed/altitude flights. Much more stable and less noisy.

Apparently turboprops as opposed to jets are stable and have a shorter liftoff distance...? Or so says Wiki ~

[MonkeyHead]

Much simpler in terms of maintenance requirements too, I suspect.

[MagmaMcFry]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/51476525/DIXON-1990-Man-After-Man
Warning: uncanny valley ahead

Oh god that was so painful to read. "But why would this happen?", asked him nobody ever.

[Max White]

Science fiction sells better than actual science.
I mean the most obvious mistake made was assuming all niches such as beasts or burden would be filled by a human descendant, when we have so many more well suited animals to choose from.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I mean the most obvious mistake made was assuming all niches such as beasts or burden would be filled by a human descendant, when we have so many more well suited animals to choose from.

I believe his justification for this is that most of Earth's biosphere is destroyed in ecological collapse before we go all gene-hax crazy.

What I don't get is how he justifies the last original humans dying out due to a polar magnetic shift despite society having become low-tech again.

[Max White]

Or how we have the technology to gene hack but but build a wheel barrow.
Ok so I did skim it pretty quickly. Didn't read all details. Perhaps this was also addressed?

Anyway, if humans can survive, chances are we managed to bring a few domestic animals with us.

[Akura]

Regarding the fuel efficiency between propellers and jets above, wouldn't a zeppelin be even more fuel efficient? While slow and vulnerable, I'm sure it would be easier to mount anti-missile systems on a zeppelin than a plane, so the only things you'd probably have to worry about are someone strafing you with machine guns or high-altitude flak.

[MonkeyHead]

Regarding the fuel efficiency between propellers and jets above, wouldn't a zeppelin be even more fuel efficient? While slow and vulnerable, I'm sure it would be easier to mount anti-missile systems on a zeppelin than a plane, so the only things you'd probably have to worry about are someone strafing you with machine guns or high-altitude flak.

Vulnerability is never a valid option.

[10ebbor10]

Contrary to popular belief, airships are not vulnerable*. They are however expensive, need(ed) large amounts of crew, quite slow, and can't fly on windy days.

Also, bloody humongous, which makes it hard to find suitable landing positions, and storage hangars.

*Really, the thing is 99% air, bullets pass straight through without doing any damage

But yeah, as energy prices rise interest in lighter than air craft has increased.

[Solifuge]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/51476525/DIXON-1990-Man-After-Man
Warning: uncanny valley ahead

I've seen this book before!

Yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense, but it is certainly otherworldy and creepy/surreal as heck. Could make for an interesting setting.

Spoiler: EDIT: This guy always gets me. I love how it's so damned serious! (click to show/hide)

[NobodyPro]

Joss Whedon co-wrote Toy Story.

[Dutchling]

Spoiler: Has the second amendment gone too far? (click to show/hide)

[Lightningfalcon]

Spoiler: Has the second amendment gone too far? (click to show/hide)

Dear god how could she bear that?  Regular fur clothing is hot enough.