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RedDeerGuy1's avatar

What are some measurement snafus' in history?

Asked by RedDeerGuy1 (24487points) February 4th, 2022
3 responses
“Great Question” (4points)

Like space probes mixing up Metric and Imperial measurements?

Also: the fight against Napoleon where two opposing army’s where using different calendars?

Humor welcome:

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rebbel's avatar

A couple of years ago I watched an “Air Crash Investigation” episode where it was explained that the reason the crash had happened was because the person responsible to put the fuel in the tanks had mixed up his gallons and his liters.
There wasn’t enough in the tanks for the plane to make it to the destination.
If I’m remembering correctly the pilots couldn’t believe/understand it because the forms stated that it was correct (the volume).

flutherother's avatar

The French train operator SNCF discovered that 2,000 new trains it ordered at a cost of 15bn euros ($20.5bn; £12.1bn) are too wide for many regional platforms. Construction work has already started to reconfigure station platforms.

The error seems to have happened because the national rail operator RFF gave the wrong dimensions to train company SNCF.

A spokesman for the RFF confirmed they had “discovered the problem a bit late”.
Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier blamed an “absurd rail system” for the problems.
“When you separate the rail operator from the train company,” he said, “this is what happens.”

elbanditoroso's avatar

get a copy of this book by Simon Winchester

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