The “Socio”-part, Is that American exceptionalism at work?
It is easier to understand if you realize the USA is about as big as Europe with an ocean on either side, it isn’t like you can drive an hour and be shopping in a different country for the most part 
1 Like
Windy on the moon that day?
1 Like
250 years of stuff based on the size of the king’s foot. 
1/4-20 becomes 6.35mm-1.27mm? Oh my aching head. 
1 Like
Europe is not the only place using the metric (SI) as their official system of measurement. So does ALL other countries in the world, except USA, Liberia and Myanmar:
That means Metric (SI) is the the officially system but it doesn’t mean that some older units of measurements aren’t used in daily life, or even in business.
Singapore went metric in the1970’s but still flats are sold and bought in Sq.Ft.
Traditionally the old Malay units, such as the pikul, gantang, chupak, kati and tahil, were used at wet markets. This was still the case for decades after it was made mandatory to use metric units in trade. (1981)
Personally I have used both the Malay, Imperial and US Customary Units as the case may require, but still think it silly to hang on to something that can only caused problems and misunderstandings, when there are a universal system that has been adopted by the majority of the world.
PS> I must admit that for small boats I still prefer length in feet over in metric. I can visualize a “24’ boat” better than if it is described as a “7.32 m. boat”.
1 Like
The first push to adopt the metric system occurred in 1866 by an act of Congress but it didn’t stick. I’m old enough to remember another push under President Carter around the same time it was adopted in Britain. I was disappointed that forces opposing globalism in America were able to resist the change but life goes on. I was living in Britain at the time and remember a strong opposition but there as well and when the dust settled, they ended up with a hybrid system which exists to this day.
The ability to function with a dual system does complicate matters slightly but it’s not an existential threat. Anyone with an IQ above that of the average bear can manage it. It’ll end up being more prevalent by osmosis as the world shrinks.
As in Britain, some remnants of the old system will no doubt survive for generations, giving old men who yell at clouds something to rant about.
5 Likes
OH NO! Not more geometry?
Off all the systems pounds, shillings and pence gave us a mental arithmetic agility not experienced by the youth of today. When we changed to the metric system it took a long time before I could visualise how tall someone was in centimetres. Some things linger on, lot and house areas and birth weights .
1 Like
I think the human brain associates length, height, weight with units of measure with something you know well and can visualize or feel. Capt Bugge - you are NOT a metric head after all!
Even more confusing, 12 Meter boats are not 12 meters long and 6 Meter boats are not 6 meters long.
2 Likes
It isn’t done from the top of the wing. There are magnetic “magnasticks” beneath the wing. You pull them down to start then slowly push them up until you feel a little tug that holds the stick at the the top of the fuel level then you read the stick markings. It is required if the gauges are inop or there is any doubt about the fuel quantity.
Well that would have saved the Air Canada crew from some embarrassment! Back when I was doing those jobs we never did that, if for some reason we had doubts about the fuel we were supposed to get an A&P to come out.
The history of the 12m. Class may explain this:
https://www.12meteryachtcharters.com/history-of-12-meter-racing
The same for the 6m.Class:
OK. Here’s the definitive answer: Ambivalence.
2 Likes
I once spent a hot two hours on the ground at KMSP while they tried to reconcile a 6,000 pound fuel discrepancy. Eventually everyone was happy. Don’t know whether wing walking was involved.
Wire in the top holding the flag out.
1 Like
Knowing how to check fuel levels is part of the basic, fundamental, initial training for pilots who did “those jobs.”
And automatically make every clock, watch, timer, computer, obsolete?
I surely knew how to check the fuel on any airplane I was a pilot of, but when I was at flight school I was a ramp rat for an airline and we only did certain things. The A&P union would have a fit if we did anything they thought was their area
Freight-dogging it was a miracle if I didn’t have to drag the dang hose out and do it all myself.