Article

2010-03-06 Science & Technology

BBC "proves" Pantibomber couldn't have broken the airplane

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Posted by 2010-03-06 00:24|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Just a little give in the fuselage can do this. Fortunately, emergency landing could be executed in minutes reducing the time the remainder of the structure was subject to stress.

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-03-06 09:59|| 2010-03-06 09:59|| Front Page Top

#2 They don't mention whether the AC was pressurized to the equivalent altitude. That makes a HUGE difference. Example: An under inflated balloon is anti-climatic when poked; fully inflated they explode when pricked.

Posted by tipover 2010-03-06 11:30|| 2010-03-06 11:30|| Front Page Top

#3 It would have worked on a pressurised aeroplane.

AlBBC doesn't understand science, hence it's support for the post-normal "science" of AGW.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2010-03-06 13:17|| 2010-03-06 13:17|| Front Page Top

#4 I say we give the BBC staff an opportunity to do their own in-flight test.

Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2010-03-06 14:47|| 2010-03-06 14:47|| Front Page Top

#5 So. This is what passes as investigation at the BBC? Cuz it looks to me like the door is open so unpressurized, and the windows sealed with metal, and the cabin empty (correct me if wrong, but the total volume occupied by the passengers and baggage would make the bomb more effective).

Posted by swksvolFF 2010-03-06 19:18|| 2010-03-06 19:18|| Front Page Top

#6 i still don't think i would want too be on a plane with a man whose crotch is blowing up

Posted by chris 2010-03-06 19:28|| 2010-03-06 19:28|| Front Page Top

#7 I think they're asking the wrong questions.

the right question is: could it puncture the center fuel tank?

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-03-06 19:37|| 2010-03-06 19:37|| Front Page Top

#8 BBC should have used an identical aircraft in their test; IIRC the a/c involved was an Airbus A 319 or 320, not a B-747. Different build details and different interior volume to absorb the shock.

Regarding the Aloha flight; that strucutral failure was due to several things, key being cyclic fatigue of the structure due to the pressurization / depressurization requirements of the flight (constant exposure to the salty air environment didn't help any). That accident led to the FAA's Aging Aircraft Inspection Program, and uncovered many more like it.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2010-03-06 19:43|| 2010-03-06 19:43|| Front Page Top

#9 would be nice if the BBC had put at least that much effort in verifying the Climate Change claims. Kinda like the Dubai assassination investigation where they seem to have spent a couple year's budget on one dead asshole. I guess the budget matches desired outcome. Go figure

Posted by Frank G 2010-03-06 19:50|| 2010-03-06 19:50|| Front Page Top

23:50 Cyber Sarge
23:25 ed
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20:43 Old Patriot