Aircraft toilets

[lisaj]

Following a great drunken discussion, how do aircraft toilets work? We've thought of lots of possibilities, particularly given the suction when flushed, but can't agree on the answer - ie. what about when on the ground? Is it a chemical storage cannister? So, does anybody know?

[sddsddean]

All toilet waste is stored in tanks on the aircraft which are pumped out by service trucks on the ground during the aircraft turn round. Is this what you mean lisa, or do you want to know what actually happens when you pull the flush handle in the loo for the stuff to get to the tank?

[lisaj]

That's ok thanks - we got the whole vaccum bit, the query was just based on what happened to the waste, but you've confirmed our suspicions.

[Squirrel]

So we can put away our umbrellas, then.

[auroberos]

although - we have had a chunk of bright blue ice fall into our garden which we found out was from an airplane the next day when a bloke from heathrow came to collect it!