Missing 777

[dmccarty]

...

The comments that question whey nobody noticed it from the ground or anywhere else don't make any sense. Who thinks twice about seeing a large jet flying by? Or even knows the difference between them to be able to identify a 777? My guess is that if it flew over, nobody would even bother to look up, they are so common, nor would they remember it.

...

Eddie

If the plane flew low to avoid radar, and people where in the area, they would have noticed. The normal time a passenger plane flies low is when landing and takeoffs. We live well away from close in landing pattern at RDU but the planes start to stack up to our south sometimes. I usually see them more on the drive home than when at home since the planes are a good ways off. However, every once in a while, one will will close to the house and lower. Believe, me you notice even if the plane is a couple of a miles away.

The Marines or Special Forces were out having some fun early this month. Twice in two weeks we had prop planes fly right over the house, and I do me right over the house, at tree top level, at NIGHT. We could hear them getting close and I ran out side to see them but at the level and speed you do not see them for long. There were two planes, I think they were Osprey's from the sound and size of the lights, and they were flying one behind the other. Civilian planes would not have been flying in trail like that at such low levels at night. Twas very cool to see and hear. They did it a week later but nothing since. I wish they would come back. :laughing:

Now, I don't think the Malaysian plane was flying that low but the reports said it flew low to avoid radar. If people were in the area, they would have noticed a plane flying at a low altitude and maybe flying in a different direction than normal. 90ish percents of the jet planes that fly within sight of my house, at low or high altitude, fly in a certain direction. Very seldom do I see planes flying in the opposite direction and I don't think I have ever seen a jet fly north or south at our house. Even smaller, private planes are flying generally east or west but very few fly north or south. I notice the difference and I danged well would notice a low flying jet airliner flying in any direction. Kinda hard to miss one with the noise level of a plane flying low. It is not something one normally sees.

Later,
Dan

 

[rekees4300]

I thought I heard on the news that the black box emits a sonar locator ping when in water.

Yes that's true but what is its range? The Indian Ocean is a big place.

 

[Express]

The Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data recorder bot have what they cal ULB - Under Water Locator Beacons. They are activated when wet and you can locate them with a under water microphone . It looks like a long D cell battery. They last (when not activated) for 5 years and are tested very 24 months. I'm not sure how long they last under water but I hear approx 30 days
Loss of a airspeed indicator soul not be the likely cause. You have 3 Adc's or Air Data computers plus a standby. They was a accident when the static air ports on the outside of a aircraft where covered and the flight crew was confused with air data being displayed

 

[rekees4300]

Yes that's true but what is its range? The Indian Ocean is a big place.

Found this: The mystery of flight MH370: How on earth, with all our technology, do we lose a giant plane? (Updated) | ExtremeTech

The FDR has an underwater locator beacon (ULB) that will ping for at least 30 days, and can be detected up to around two miles away, but when you're talking about a search area consisting of thousands of square miles, and waters that are almost a mile deep on average, finding the black box will be no mean feat.

 

[farmgirl19]

Maybe it isn't the plane anyone was after, but something on it?

My first thought when the news broke, was an inflight breakup of the composite material on the aircraft. I am still not convinced that is not a possible scenario, given how much "information" seems to be "revealed" then changed. But if the plane was diverted, it is likely for something onboard, and all are scrambling to recover whatever *it* is.

 

[joemd11]

I just hope they find it and bring closure. Latest news updates show they are truly searching for a needle in a haystack.

 

[dmccarty]

I surfed into a report on an English newspaper that had a story about the pilots political feelings. They had a picture of the pilot wearing a shirt that said democracy is dead which appears to be in reference to a Malaysian opposition politician, who the pilot supports, but who the Malaysian government has been going after for years. The pilot does not sound like an Islamic fanatic but he seems to be upset at the Malaysian government. I have not seen anything yet on the copilot.

The problem with the plane is in Pakistan idea is that the pings do not show the plan going to Pakistan. The pings put the plane to the east of Pakistan. If the plane had flown in that direction, it seems very unlikely that the radars of the various countries that would have to be crossed to connect the pings and get to Pakistan, would not have seen the plane. While the Indian military has serious issues, I would be shocked if they do not have radar coverage of the eastern parts of Pakistan that borders India. This is most of Pakistan. I would really be shocked if the US does not have full or almost full radar coverage of Pakistan from radar in Afghanistan and the USN off the coast. Then there is US ELINT capabilities which are not, and should not, be discussed if it picked up some data. That is not a conspiracy but good sense not to tell our enemies what we know and how we know.

The northern arc also flies over China and the Chinese have been pushing the Indians over border disputes in the Himalayas. It would be hard to believe that Chinese radar would not have picked up a plane flying in that airspace. They have moved some of the best fighter planes into that area a few years ago and they would almost certainly had radar systems in place well before the planes were transferred. The Chinese have moved major ground units into that area many years ago and it would be very hard to believe that they did not bring in air defense units including long range search radars.

The Washington Post has good graphic and timeline, Satellite indicates Flight MH370 still flying seven hours after takeoff - The Washington Post

The last ping was received almost 6 hours after the plane went off radar to the NNW which is where the USS Kidd and a P8 have been sent. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121839 What will be interesting is where will the assets go if nothing is found? I would guess south towards Australia following the pings. Given that the last ping was 6 hours after the plane left radar it seems the only reason the plane would be found were the Kidd and the P8 are looking is if the pilot flew in circles for six hours BUT the ping is not on an arc anywhere near where the Kidd and P8 are searching...

If the plane flew north to match the northern ping arch and the plane did manage to cross over a couple of countries undetected on radar, it might be years before the plane is found. If the plane is ever found. The northern ping arch is in a very remote part of the world and if the plane flew into the side of a snow covered mountain or down in a valley the plane might never be found.

If the plane was part of grand plan to kidnap people for hostages the plane would now have been on the ground long enough for Dr. Evil to have moved the hostages all over the place to prevent any rescue. Dr. Evil would be crowing about the hijacking and making demands but all we have are crickets. If some one wanted the plane for a suicide attack or something similar, it would have been better to hijack a cargo plane that could disappear with far less notice. The US and other countries would not be making this effort for a missing 747 with a flight crew and packages.

I would like to know why the USN is looking where it is looking. It is a logical area to search except for the ping data. Are the Aussies searching off their coast?

Later,
Dan

 

[farmgirl19]

joemd11; I agree. I hope they find it.

dmccarty; I also agree that if it had been a hijacking, someone would be bragging by now.

With the varied search areas, not fitting the info we are being told, it still has me wondering who knows how much, and why is it being kept secret?

 

[tom4018]

I have not heard any mention of what type of cargo the plane may have also been carrying. Wonder if there was something someone may have wanted?

 

[Egon]

I have not heard any mention of what type of cargo the plane may have also been carrying. Wonder if there was something someone may have wanted?

Chinese Technicians??