Missing 777

[sixdogs]

News people are just news readers and know nothing more than we can read on our own. Some government or some person within the government has a pretty good idea what happened to that plane and apparently, mum's the word. I still think it's on the ground somewhere and waiting.

 

[dragoneggs]

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.

I have to put your mind at ease on the issue of whether composite construction had anything to do with the disappearance of flight MA370. From a structural-weight standpoint, the 777 is primarily an aluminum airplane. Seventy percent of the overall structure is aluminum, including the wing, wing box and fuselage. The significant composite structure on the 777 are the vertical fin, horizontal stabilizers, and passenger-floor beams which utilize a Boeing/supplier developed toughened, damage-resistant carbon fiber epoxy resin system. These components could not cause a catastrophic break up of the aircraft in such a way that communication/tracking systems would be instantaneously severed such that the aircraft would immediately go 'missing'. I believe I have some credibility on this matter as I was a lead structural engineer on the 777 involved in the composite design from its inception to production and delivery. The service experience of this aircraft has proved that it is one of the safest aircraft ever. In large part because of the success of the 777, the new 787 has composite fuselage and wings. The early 'teething' troubles of the 787 have nothing to do with composites. For those who are interested, the 787 problems have mainly been due to the incorporation of very powerful, state of the art Lithium Ion batteries it employs to power major systems normally powered by aircraft engine bleed off.

But this is not the issue... it is very clear (at least in my mind) based on the information coming out... that several systems were deliberately shut down while the aircraft was in pilot control in order to 'hide' the aircraft as much as possible. As to what the intention of those who were ultimately in control, we don't know yet. Did they ditch it in the ocean? Did they land or crash it on land? That is the mystery. I concern myself with those poor souls missing and their families who don't have an answer... YET.

 

[joemd11]

I have to put your mind at ease on the issue of whether composite construction had anything to do with the disappearance of flight MA370. From a structural-weight standpoint, the 777 is primarily an aluminum airplane. Seventy percent of the overall structure is aluminum, including the wing, wing box and fuselage. The significant composite structure on the 777 are the vertical fin, horizontal stabilizers, and passenger-floor beams which utilize a Boeing/supplier developed toughened, damage-resistant carbon fiber epoxy resin system. These components could not cause a catastrophic break up of the aircraft in such a way that communication/tracking systems would be instantaneously severed such that the aircraft would immediately go 'missing'. I believe I have some credibility on this matter as I was a lead structural engineer on the 777 involved in the composite design from its inception to production and delivery. The service experience of this aircraft has proved that it is one of the safest aircraft ever. In large part because of the success of the 777, the new 787 has composite fuselage and wings. The early 'teething' troubles of the 787 have nothing to do with composites. For those who are interested, the 787 problems have mainly been due to the incorporation of very powerful, state of the art Lithium Ion batteries it employs to power major systems normally powered by aircraft engine bleed off.

But this is not the issue... it is very clear (at least in my mind) based on the information coming out... that several systems were deliberately shut down while the aircraft was in pilot control in order to 'hide' the aircraft as much as possible. As to what the intention of those who were ultimately in control, we don't know yet. Did they ditch it in the ocean? Did they land or crash it on land? That is the mystery. I concern myself with those poor souls missing and their families who don't have an answer... YET.

Dragoneggs,
I've been flying your plane now for about a year and all I can say is "awesome"! It really is a great machine and a pleasure to fly. I echo your thoughts on the MA passengers and their families. I think it is going to be a long time before they get closure on this.

 

[houstonscott]

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/missing-plane-programmed-turn/2014/03/17/id/560131/
HS

 

[PILOON]

I'm not saying Mr Ledgerwood's scenario is impossible, but it is highly unlikely. The airways that planes use are like 2-way streets but with separation vertically instead of horizontally. Thats 1000 feet altitude separation. Most all planes are navigating with GPS so they are spot on the airway centerline. One airplane shadowing another would have to stack up or down about 500 feet to avoid the lead planes wake turbulence. Now if these two planes passed any opposite direction traffic the separation would be minimal and the passing pilots would be alerting ATC. These airways are heavily used and someone would see whats going on. I suppose it could happen but don't think so.
What did happen I no clue. Lots of ocean out there and lots of double/triple canopy jungle that would swallow up an aircraft with very little clue.

Very slightly above, like 100 ft as wake turbulance spirals downwards and due to widows there is a very large blind spot to the rear of aircraft.
Secondly being IFR pilots never look out the window anyway except on landing and that just at touchdown. Also all windshields only afford a forward view.

 

[joemd11]

Very slightly above, like 100 ft as wake turbulance spirals downwards and due to widows there is a very large blind spot to the rear of aircraft.
Secondly being IFR pilots never look out the window anyway except on landing and that just at touchdown. Also all windshields only afford a forward view.

Where's Jay's avatar when I need it?

 

[EddieWalker]

This is great. That's what I like so much about TBN, you always get so much information!!!!

How hard is it to change the direction of the flight? From what they are saying now, it has to be done on a computer, but that computer is in the cockpit. Is it something that was done before the flight took off or while it was in flight?

Eddie

 

[buickanddeere]

Everything indicates to me that they had a destination they wanted to take the plane and it was a well planned out operation with that goal. They also didn't want anybody to know where they where going, and it's very likely that the place they wanted to go to was expecting them and also in on the plan of keeping it secret. Why? What do you do with a stolen 777? Reselling it isn't going to happen, every plane in the sky is identified, and any plane that isn't will stand out and draw attention to it. Nobody would ever be able to use it commercially, which means nobody is ever going to buy it.

Eddie

Re-selling the jet to some low rent 3rd world country is possible. There is a thriving business by corrupt harbour authorities that regularly detain cargo ships for flimsy reasons . Then confiscate the ship and re-sell it. Just a larger version of all the vehicles stolen and loaded into sea cans. Then shipped around the world and sold hot to where nobody cares.

 

[joemd11]

Easy to change the route of flight either on the ground or airborne. Usually happens because ATC changes your route or could be due to weather avoidance.

 

[buickanddeere]

But that aircraft will be sending info again before it gets to the targets. It is probably worthless for that purpose. Fighters should be scrambled before it reaches a target. I don't think the passengers were the target, but yes, probably collateral damage. If it wasn't taken over for what is onboard, it might be at the bottom of the ocean, and we are being told all sorts of different things on the news stations, because no one has their stories straight yet.

With all the news media coverage. The high jackers with either open the circuit breaker to troublesome beacons. Or reprogram the ID numbers to either a random set. More likely clone another aircraft.
MH370 likely flew at cruise altitude with the transponder re-set to another number. MH370 could have also tailed a legit flight and hid in the radar shadow. Or they could in the future hide in the radar shadow of another jet and divert to target . With only minutes of warning there is no way to scramble fighter jets to intercept.