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To: eastforker; F14 Pilot; SkyPilot; All
re post no. 6304,

I'm not a scientist, so I wouldn't be able to answer that question for you.
You might go to the www.NTSB.gov site and look around.

6,322 posted on 01/04/2004 5:06:46 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All
LINKS OF INTEREST...
On The Net..."TWA800.com - ASSOCIATED RETIRED AVIATION PROFESSIONALS: The Flight 800 Investigation"

On The Net..."FLIGHT800.org - INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS ORGANIZATION"

EGYPTAIR FLIGHT 990"

6,323 posted on 01/04/2004 5:07:23 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy
Does anyone here know first hand how much damage would occur to a 737 that just took off and plunged into the water.Would it disintegrate upon impact or just break up?

There are several factors involved, the most significant being speed, weight of the aircraft at time of impact, angle of impact in the vertical, amount of pilot control prior to ditching.

Hitting water is not like hitting a feather bed. The impact can be violent. At takeoff, the aircraft is heavier, and this affects both stall speed--and the kinetic energy when hitting the water. The speed with which you hit the water is a big factor.

Just like in High School physics: Kinetic Energy = 1/2 MASS * Velocity (squared)

If the aircraft hits the water under reasonable pilot control, close to stall speed, in calm seas--then the chances of it being relatively intact are obviously great. Its always a puzzle for the accident investigators, but you would be amazed at the forensics of it all.

6,504 posted on 01/05/2004 5:09:43 AM PST by SkyPilot
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