Posted on 06/01/2009 10:13:17 AM PDT by Steelfish
That may be technically correct, but it is not entirely correct. If memory serves me correctly, there was an Iranian Air Force 747 (once owned by TWA), that was believed to have had a #1 fuel tank explosion caused by a lightning strike with a subsequent inflight disintegration. Again, I believe it was in Spain at the time.
Lightning strikes are very common. I've had multiple strikes in the same day, and they can do some damage. Oddly enough, the composite aircraft I've flown seem to have fared better than the aluminum variety. Composite aircraft structures, when designed and maintained properly, are designed to conduct the electron flow. You may lose paint at the point of entry and exit, but the underlying structure was always undamaged. Aluminum, on the other hand, tends to look like it got hit with an arc welder (which is a pretty accurate description of what happened). It is pretty common to see a small hole, but not much more. Radomes are another story. They come apart quite commonly, but they're mostly just cardboard honeycomb. If a little water gets into the cells, it turns to steam instantly and bingo, damaged radome. Still, no problem, since the radome is not a structural item. The plane flies fine. It would certainly be correct to say that lightning initiated tank explosions are an EXTREMELY rare occurrence, but the Iranian Air Force incident proves that it is at least possible.
In a former life I flew 747-400’s, I concur, I always felt safe in them. It will be difficult for them to locate the location of the mishap.
The other one!
:-)
Thank you for the info. I’m not a flyer, even tho my Dad was an AF pilot and had his private license when I was a kid. And my brother is an ATC. And my FIL was a marine pilot! LOL I’m surrounded by airplane people—but I don’t fly!
Some reports have the plane down new an island group, so perhaps some shallow water could be in the picture....
But, given all that I have heard, it would be a miracle of the first order to even find the wreckage.
O mesmo aqui...
I know there’s plenty around here that like to see terrorism in everything, but why don’t we wait for some facts? Right now we don’t know anything...I’m not even keen on the lightning angle.
God I know. As if there isn’t enough going on in the world...now we have 228 lost souls somewhere. Too much to even imagine.
The flight should have passed somewhere near St. Peter and Paul rocks on the way to Cape Verde Islands. The rocks are about 1600 miles into the flight path. It would seem likely the flight should have been well past the rocks when they went down.
Thank you, i think I'll take a pass on that.
I spilled my coffee when I saw a breaking news report on the overhead TV about an A330 lost over the Atlantic. Say again, please...
I have been listening to the media talking heads and the aviation experts for about an hour since waking from my nap. Overall, I think the mainstream coverage is within the proverbial ball park on this one. I cannot believe I am saying this...
But, here are two things being reported with which I will disagree:
1. (Media says,"A bolt of lightning cannot, by itself, bring down a modern airliner.") A bolt of lightning could easily wreck an aircraft and cause a crash by itself. Yes, lightning strikes on aircraft occur everyday. I have been struck many times over my career. Usually, it is a non-event causing only minor damage or none at all. However, if an aircraft is in the vicinity of a very large thunderstorm, it could be struck by a super bolt of lightning reeking total havoc with disastrous results.
2. (Media says,"Turbulence cannot, by itself, bring down a modern airliner.")Turbulence could easily wreck an aircraft and cause a crash by itself. Severe turbulence in the vicinity of a very large thunderstorm, or even a lesser one, has to be experienced to be believed. I have been inside thunderstorms several times in my career. It is unavoidable when you are a professional pilot. Anyone who disagrees with the previous sentence has not flown enough miles or has been very lucky. As a Line pilot, I go to great, even extreme lengths to stay out of thunderstorms for obvious reasons. Passengers pay me to deliver them safely to their loved ones.
A thunderstorm is a violent and scary entity. It has the power, and I mean real power, to easily rip the wings from an A330, or any other make or model of aircraft. No problem whatsoever.
On the automatic radio messages sent to Mother... Yep, Fi-Fi will send a message to the mainframe (think H.A.L.) when certain key malfunctions have occurred. It is a design feature of the Airbus Industries aircraft. Think you can hide a pesky malfunction from Mother so that you can do that last turn of the day and get home to Momma? You better be careful.
I will put forward two scenarios that may have happened to this jet:
First- Struck by a super bolt which fried the electronics causing depressurization, loss of electrical power and finally, a high altitude upset in IFR conditions (dark, turbulent, scary) leading to catastrophe.
Second- Encountered severe turbulence between or in thunderstorms. Airframe damage and/or failure leads to depressurization, loss of electrical power and finally, disaster.
Whatever happened, it was not pretty. The pax were terrified and the pilots were surely fighting until impact.
An A330 has crashed in the Atlantic... That fact is unbelievable.
Life on the Line continues...
So, is this an overseas contingency or a man-made disaster?
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