Aircraft maintenance can be grueling work at times. Sometimes the only way to get through a stressful day at work is to pause and have a few laughs to take the tension away. Here's a list of a few pranks we've pulled on new aircraft mechanics.
The Roll of Flight Line
If you are familiar with aviation, you are aware that flight line is the specific area of an airfield or airport where aircraft are parked, serviced, and prepared for flight. Not all new A&P mechanics are knowledgeable to this information, so when a seasoned mechanic is asking for a roll of flight line, they are usually refering to a form of tape that does not exist. It never fails for the new mechanic to wander off looking for this mysterious tape, only to be greated with histerical laughs for the thirty minutes just wasted!
Bottle of Prop Wash
Whether you are a long-time pilot or an experienced mechanic, you know that prop wash is the mass of air pushed backward by a rotating propeller. While it’s essentially the "wind" created by the engine, it has a significant impact on how an aircraft behaves, especially at low speeds. When referring to a bottle of prop wash, these veteran mechanics are essentially asking the new mechanic for a fluid to wash the propeller with. That joke never gets old and the new tech is eventually told the correct way to clean the prop.
Muffler Bearing
While this joke was also popularized within the automotive industry, this joke is universal. Here's how that joke usually goes;
Senior Mechanic: "Hey, I’m finishing up the exhaust on this jet, but the muffler bearing is shot. I need you to go to parts ask about a new one."
Apprentice: "A muffler bearing? I didn't know those were a thing."
Senior Mechanic: "Oh yeah, especially on these high-performance models. They keep the exhaust resonance from vibrating the frame. Just tell the guys at the counter you need a double-sealed, heat-resistant muffler bearing. If they act like they don't have it, tell them to check the back shelf because these don't commonly wear out.
The Result: The apprentice goes to the parts counter, asks for the non-existent part, and the parts manager (who is usually in on the joke) tells them they just sold the last one and asks them to call around looking for one to keep the prank going.
Manifold Pressure Tube
In aviation history, relief tubes were developed for pilots as standard equipment in military and general aviation. These relief tubes were designed to allow the pilot to urinate without leaving the cockpit, as it is expelled through a drain. As disgusting as this prank is, it's still funny to confuse the newcomers. It is explained that in order to test the manifold operation during maintenance, you have to suck on the tube to get a reading. EWW! Gross, I know! Most question it immediately, but their lack of knowledge puts them dangerously close to commiting the act.
Piston Return Springs
The piston return spring joke follows the same logic as the muffler bearing—it's about sending someone to find a part that would actually defy the laws of physics or mechanical engineering.
Since pistons are driven down by combustion and pushed back up by the crankshaft (or vice-versa), a "spring" to pull them back is entirely unnecessary.
Here is how that usually plays out in the shop:
Shop Lead: "Man, listen to the knock on cylinder three. I think the piston return spring snapped. That’s why it’s not cycling back up fast enough."
New Mechanic: "A return spring? I didn't think there were springs inside the cylinder walls."
Shop Lead: "Normally you don't see them, they're heavy-duty tension coils tucked behind the connecting rod. Look, I’m buried in this manifold. Do me a favor—hop over to parts and ask for a high-tension, left-hand-wind piston return spring for a [insert engine model]. And tell them not to give you the cheap plastic ones; we need the chrome-vanadium set."
The Result: The new mechanic heads to the parts. The supply clerk—who has been waiting for a reason to take a coffee break—shakes his head and says, "We just sent our last one to the machine shop for recalibration. You'll have to call over and see if they've finished 'stretching' it yet." Pausing, "If not, here's a few places you can call to get a rush order."
By the time the mechanic realizes that the only "spring" in a cylinder is the one in his own step, he's called three different places just to see if we can get overnight shipment.
In close, these pranks are usually played in good humor. Though embarrassment usually follows, even the new tech gets a laugh out of the joke. So, do you have any good pranks you've played on an unsuspecting newcomer? Feel free to send me a message if so, I'd love to hear them and share the laughs with others!
