maybe so, but when I was in the lab and these were being tested, they were
green, and two of them fit in a 1 galon paint can (that was surpsingly
heavy) - it was amusing to watch the company mail person pick up the can -
or almost pick it up, do a double take, and then barely move it with both
hands, from the "out box" it was in, into his mail cart.

"Erik" wrote in message
...
In article 1113964852.5d08e5c3f6a40a45cff67c45c0346ce9@teran ews,
"william_b_noble" wrote:

there was a mod to the L-1011 airplane that involved putting depleted
uranium weights as counterbalances on a couple of control arms - I
wonder what happens to those weights when the planes are
decomissioned.

IIRC from A&P school, more than a few large aircraft use it as a control
surface counterweight material. The weights must be disposed of properly
when the aircraft is written off.

After accidents, finding the weights (and recorders) are a top priority.

Recall they're heavily cad plated... impression stamped with warnings,
and painted international orange for easy identification.

I Googled a little, found this FAA advisory circular.

http://www.faa.gov/fsdo/orl/files/advcir/AC20-123.TXT

Erik