So WTH really happened to this Malaysian aircraft??

[Don]

The t-shirt and "activism" aren't really suspicious, but why do all these dudes have Arabic names?

Islam is kind of a big deal in Malaysia.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Islam is kind of a big deal in Malaysia.

it has many leatherbound books, and its apartment smells of rich mahogany.

[mp170.6]

if i have a gun and you don't, and i've taken over your plane and caused a tremendous amount of fear and panic, i doubt you'd put up much of a fight in surrendering your phone when i get to your row.

 

Everybody else would just sit tight and let them go seat to seat and collect phones?  There's really no benefit to doing this anyway with so little chance of cell coverage. 

[gotbeer]

I wonder if there is a way to turn off the skyphone?  You would think if something was happening, that's what would be used.  

[mp170.6]

Too soon for this?

 

[arch stanton]

National security is the new interstate commerce. Those two phrases can work together to render the entire Constitution powerless but just because some jackass says we should take over doesn't mean we will.

[AngelsLongBall]

I heard a story last week (in regards to a hijacking) that a dozen or so of the passengers on board were electronic surveillance/warfare engineers, as that could be a motive for taking the plane. I haven't heard or seen it anywhere else, so I believe it is just that, a story

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

"It's possible that the aircraft had hugged the terrain in some areas, that are mountainous to avoid radar detection."

This technique is called terrain masking and is used by military pilots to fly to their targets stealthily, using the topography to mask their approach from prying microwaves. This type of flying is considered very dangerous, especially in low-light conditions and spatial disorientation, and airsickness could easily set in. The stresses and loads it puts on the airframe, especially an airliner of the 777's size, are tremendous.

"While the ongoing search is divided into two massive areas, the data that the investigating team is collating is leading us more towards the north," sources said.

Read more: 'Plane flew low to avoid radar' - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/plane-flew-low-to-avoid-radar-1.516965#ixzz2wCPi2fR5

 

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

New reports are saying that the plane flew as low as 5,000 feet, possibly lower to avoid detection and they're thinking the plane flew North..maybe around India to Pakistan? Kazakhstan? Who the hell knows now...this is getting insane...the longer this goes on, the more I think some radical is in possession of a 777.

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

[mp170.6]

 

If they were flying at 5,000 feet to avoid detection, you can cross Australia, Japan, Korea, upper Russia, and western India off the list.  A lot more fuel is burned in denser air at lower altitudes.

[arch stanton]

My bet would be Myanmar.

[ten ocho recon scout]

As far as the low level flight, its already been mentioned that it eats fuel, but more importantly its a lot harder thanthe news is making it sound (not sure how accurate the low flying part is).

Yes, military planes do it all the time. That said, they have terrain following radar and night vision. Ive done it a few times (helicopter) and its not the easiest thing to do. It is possible that commercial planes have a rudimentary one I guess. And night vision equipment is available for relatively cheap.

But the odds the plane has the radar necessary, the pilot (whoever was in control) has night vision, and the pilot has the skill to do so....

......with the added factor they were flying a not at all agile aircraft, AND defeated several grids of military radar coverage (land based and sea).......would be pretty once in a lifetime.

Anything is possible I guess

[ten ocho recon scout]

If they were flying at 5,000 feet to avoid detection, you can cross Australia, Japan, Korea, upper Russia, and western India off the list. A lot more fuel is burned in denser air at lower altitudes.

yep, and i highly doubt any of those countries wouldnt have caught it.

If it was in fact hijacked, I guess (given the news for now) that its very possible it turned back around and maybe landed in indonesia? It is pretty instable, and there are a ton of extremist groups there.

[arch stanton]

With a radar altimeter and an accurate terrain map you could soft ride at 5k but if you were over land it would be hard to mask the noise unless you were landing at a place that sees regular air traffic.

[arch stanton]

My afternoon instructor cancelled his sessions so I had time to experiment with fuel. This is a F-15S sim so it's not exact but it gives an idea of the difference altitude makes. I went to several altitudes and held 500 knots ground speed at level flight heading 300.

 

35,000 feet = 3900 pounds per hour per engine

15.000 feet  = 5600 PPH

5000 feet     = 7000 PPH

 

I also went to 45,000 to check the cabin pressure and it jump from a comfortable 12,000 at 35k to and less comfy 18,000 and 45k.

[AngelsLongBall]

Seems reasonable. Bottom of the ocean

[Blarg]

I heard a story last week (in regards to a hijacking) that a dozen or so of the passengers on board were electronic surveillance/warfare engineers, as that could be a motive for taking the plane. I haven't heard or seen it anywhere else, so I believe it is just that, a story

 

It is so much easier to grab them at the terminal and stuff them in a van than take a 777 and make it disappear.

[St1ck]

It is so much easier to grab them at the terminal and stuff them in a van than take a 777 and make it disappear.

 

 

Or is it? 

[Adam]

Its harder to rape their anuses with their girlfriends' vaginas and microchips on land than in air

Edited March 17, 2014 by Adam

[Blarg]

Hollywood is furiously looking for a cast and updating it's old movie poster to add another 7.

 

[yk9001]

Hollywood is furiously looking for a cast and updating it's old movie poster to add another 7.

 

 

Its interesting (or maybe not) that major hollywood stars were all older back then.

[Blarg]

Disaster movies of the 70's were the retirement fund for many of the old stars. Meanwhile guys like Redford, Newman, Nicholson, De Niro, Hoffman, Hackman, Allen, Keaton, and Dreyfuss were getting all of the A list movies.

[Tank]

My afternoon instructor cancelled his sessions so I had time to experiment with fuel. This is a F-15S sim so it's not exact but it gives an idea of the difference altitude makes. I went to several altitudes and held 500 knots ground speed at level flight heading 300.

 

35,000 feet = 3900 pounds per hour per engine

15.000 feet  = 5600 PPH

5000 feet     = 7000 PPH

 

I also went to 45,000 to check the cabin pressure and it jump from a comfortable 12,000 at 35k to and less comfy 18,000 and 45k.

 

"captain, i need to use the f-15 simulator this afternoon."

"why's that, private?"

"there's a bunch of people in california that i don't know, and i need to win an internet argument with them."

"permission to come aboard, private."

 

 

seriously, it's pretty impressive you jumped into the simulator and did this. 

[arch stanton]

I fly it everyday. Still haven't made a decent landing yet.