Well, the metric system is not necessarily a better system any more than English is a better language.  While the metric system does have some advantages over other unit systems IMHO (but of course not more accurate), the point is that the international community has chosen the metric system to be the primary international system.  Just like English was chosen as the international language. 

 

I just think it is embarrassing that the US cant seem to adopt the international system... 

 

Medicine has actually done a good job of the conversion.  All measurements are in cm, weights in Kg or gm or mg or mcg.  Volumes are in cc/ml, Liters and deciliters.  Temps in Celsius.  Still some of the fittings for medical equipment remain SAE...    But at least we are trying.  The rest of America seems to have given up trying.

 

Dave Leonard
 

On 11/24/06, Lehanover@aol.com <Lehanover@aol.com> wrote:

In a message dated 11/24/2006 3:38:32 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, unicorn@gdsys.net writes:

----- Original Message -----

From: David Leonard

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 7:48 AM

Subject: [FlyRotary] metric system

 

I am so embarrassed by America and our failure to convert to the metric system.   While the whole rest of the world has adopted our language as the international language, we cant even convert to the universal system of units!  That is really lame.

 

Other than the fact that feet does seem to work better than meters for the airspace system (though that can eventually be worked out), the rest of aviation should have changed by now.  Altimeter settings should be in mm Hg, all temps in C.  Speed limits and speedometers in all cars should be in Km.  Postal weights should be in Kg...

 

Sigh,

Dave Leonard

 

I had a young engineer tell me that we should change all of the dimensions on a drawing to metric, because metric is more accurate. The sad part is that he believed that and an instructor had told him that.

 

Lynn E. Hanover