A little more context would be helpful here: FLIP is a massive "floating buoy" used for oceanic research. What's interesting is that the better part of the vessel can be filled with seawater, allowing the whole thing to "flip" 90 degrees. Thus, the bathrooms have two sinks, toilets, etc. each situated at a right angle to the other.
The purpose of the scientist is to flip out and study waves! posted by Harry at 12:36 PM on November 7, 2005
Context is not always good. I wouldn't have been able to use the age old stale MeFi line "Built to FLIP!" and talk about Pyra in the title if I had mentioned what it was all about. :) posted by riffola at 12:40 PM on November 7, 2005
They've had that ride at Cedar Point for years. I ride it every chance I get. One time, I forgot that you shouldn't eat cotton candy before riding it. They actually have a sign that says that. Let's just say, it was very scary. posted by panoptican at 12:44 PM on November 7, 2005
[I think the mona lisa would look better with bigger breasts.]
That's rather cool. posted by nile_red at 12:49 PM on November 7, 2005
I saw this on TLC or Discover a few months ago and thought it was totally cool. Its a really great idea really.
If only the Poseidon had been built this way, they wouldn't have been able to make (and remake but will it ever be the same without Shelley Winters?) such a cool movie. posted by fenriq at 12:51 PM on November 7, 2005
This is really neat. The reason it flips is apparently because once it has done so, the ship is much more stable and quiet, and they use it to study underwater sound waves. posted by whir at 12:55 PM on November 7, 2005
I'm a little upset that this is over 40 years old, but brand new to me, even though I used to live in SD. Thanks for the find! posted by hypersloth at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2005
You learn something new every day. posted by fungible at 1:10 PM on November 7, 2005
I remember reading about this in one of my Weekly Readers back in elementary school. I actually Googled it (or probably Webcrawled or Lycosed or Altavistaized) a few years ago and couldn't find anything.
Did Jeff Goldblum's character in The Life Aquatic have one of these too? posted by RobertFrost at 2:10 PM on November 7, 2005
When this "ship" was christened, National Geographic ran a great article about it but I can't find mention of it on the web. posted by snsranch at 4:37 PM on November 7, 2005
wow, posts from digg make it over here fast.
i have co-workers who go out on flip. it can ride through much fiercer storms and waves than any other ship. the galley and all the berths are mounted on gimbals. posted by 3.2.3 at 4:38 PM on November 7, 2005
Cool, 3.2.3, I used to see it docked out on Pt. Loma (on the sub-base) where I think it was fueling. I've always wanted to go aboard that thing. I guess I could have asked. posted by snsranch at 4:49 PM on November 7, 2005
Thus, the bathrooms have two sinks, toilets, etc. each situated at a right angle to the other.
Now we know why everybody goes topside for the flip. posted by dhartung at 8:52 PM on November 7, 2005
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Neat.
posted by aladfar at 12:35 PM on November 7, 2005