The 777 was a what? On a what? Spy mission?

III / XIV / MMXIV | pansgold

[yield 2 the right]

239 of them all in on it, now that is something to think about.
Some were in on it if that is the case, not all..

[GreyFriar]

What are the coordinates of Howland Island?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Cell phone jammers.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I’ve known people who fly that can sleep through thunderstorms while flying. How they do that I have no idea.

[BwanaNdege]

It takes a specially thick reinforced runway long enough to take off again and there ain’t to many of em around the world 7 feet thick with concrete.

For reference, Boeing has a limit of a 6000 foot runway for Boeing-operated 777 operations.

The 777 has a lower landing weight than the 747, which lands all over the world.

The "7 feet of concrete" might be needed for landing, not so much for takeoff.

http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/faqs/boeing_pavement_surface_types.pdf

"Rigid Pavement- A runway, taxiway, or ramp that is surfaced with a mixture of concrete materials (Portland cement, sand, coarse aggregate, and water) of from 6 to 20 inches (15 to 51 centimeters) or more in thickness. Typical narrow body runways usually have 11 to 13 inches (28 to 33 centimeters) of concrete thickness, and runways that serve wide body aircraft usually have 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 centimeters) of concrete thickness. This type of construction qualifies a runway to be referred to as "hard surfaced" or "paved". (Also known as a "concrete" pavement.)"

[pansgold]

Uncle Sam uses them all the time. Try and use a cell phone within a mile of a presidential convoy and you’ll here... “We’re sorry, all circuits are busy”.

[pansgold]

Perhaps I misspoke on the dimensions. Being a former airman in the military, I know the C5A Galaxy needs a 7,000 foot runway 7 feet thick. I have not com paired the size of the 777 to the C5A but they are both HUGE as is the A380.

The weight of the plane plus cargo , fuel and passengers is in the 100 ton range.

[Intolerant in NJ]

It might be possible that the airplane was slowly decompressed...although latest info seems to be that the plane climbed to 45000 feet right after communications were cut - maybe decompression was more rapid and speeded by going higher - rapid loss of oxygen in the passenger cabin and all go to sleep real quick....

[VerySadAmerican]

That’s my theory, too. And the auto pilot took over and made corrections as “it” believed were needed. That’s why it was zigzagging across the sky.

[pansgold]

ps: The C5A weighs in at 400 tons PLUS.

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 840,000 pounds (381,024 kilograms)

[Starstruck]

Are any relatives saying someone called them?

[pansgold]

“Are any relatives saying someone called them?”

No and you won’t here about it if the people that control the info don’t want it to be heard. I’m as much in the dark as everyone else. I have no answers and don’t know a soul on the plane.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Everyone would have suffocated in their sleep and died a peaceful death.

Wouldn't their ears have been painfully popping and woken them up?

[pansgold]

GOOD ONE!

Popping ear drums and nose tickles from dangling O2 masks...

[Jack Hydrazine]

Sure!

[Starstruck]

No and you won’t here about it if the people that control the info don’t want it to be heard

I'm hearing a lot of relatives talking about rings being heard (although there may be a normal explanation for that) so who are these people controlling the information about relatives being called?

[pansgold]

Like that?

[Jack Hydrazine]

I guess...

[pansgold]

“...so who are these people controlling the information about relatives being called?”

The same people with the computer power to monitor every call on the planet at one time?

The people that control all the radio and TV licences?

[Starstruck]

The same people with the computer power to monitor every call on the planet at one time?

And they are letting you tell us about them.....wait.......wait...... where did you go?.......No! Pansgold, I hardly knew you........Is that a knock at my door? Be right ba