[Poohbah]

I've "done some reading."

The problem with the Navy missile theory is that the missile would NOT have had the sort of exhaust plume described by eyewitnesses at the point of intercepting Flight 800.

[archy]

The problem with the Navy missile theory is that the missile would NOT have had the sort of exhaust plume described by eyewitnesses at the point of intercepting Flight 800.

Concur. Though there's a considerable flash signature at launch, that's much less visible in flight. It's possible, though, that a reworked or experimentally enhanced missile was involved, much as we upgraded some older Soviet Strela missile launchers for use of the Contras, given to specially selected and trained gunners.

Navy Standard Missile vertical launch shot:

[archy]

The problem with the Navy missile theory is that the missile would NOT have had the sort of exhaust plume described by eyewitnesses at the point of intercepting Flight 800.

What's the Soviet surface-to-air shipborne 2-stage missile that launches from ship, then fires a second supersonic warhead stage once it closes with and locks on the target. I'll admit that Russian naval weapons systems fall outside my area of interest and middlin' knowledge, but that sure does sound like the profile and characteristic described.

Might the FBI coverup efforts have been directed at deflecting the public wrath from the Russian suppliers, or possibly a former Soviet client?

[ml/nj]

The problem with the Navy missile theory is that the missile would NOT have had the sort of exhaust plume described by eyewitnesses at the point of intercepting Flight 800.

I assume that the Navy was testing some sort of new system. It's pretty hard to know what sort of exhaust plume some system under test migh display, unless one is part of the team doing the testing.

ML/NJ