Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Swordmaker

The missiles that you describe are all IR missiles, and would chase the heat from the engines, and not the center fuel tank. The only type that would have gone for the center mass of the aircraft would be radar guided, and there are no MANPAD missiles (that I know of) that meet this criteria.


156 posted on 07/18/2006 9:21:23 PM PDT by Mr. Quarterpanel (I am not an actor, but I play one on TV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies ]


To: Mr. Quarterpanel

"and there are no MANPAD missiles (that I know of) that meet this criteria."

That's why I like FR. You learn something new every day.
Yes there are missiles that meet that criteria.


168 posted on 07/18/2006 9:52:11 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (I will go down with this ship, and I won't put my hands up in surrender.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies ]

To: Mr. Quarterpanel
The missiles that you describe are all IR missiles, and would chase the heat from the engines, and not the center fuel tank. The only type that would have gone for the center mass of the aircraft would be radar guided, and there are no MANPAD missiles (that I know of) that meet this criteria.

Not necessarily true. An IR seeking missile will only see the average of the heat sources and aim for that average. The Center Wing Tank is at the center of the infra-red averaged image of the four engines and the heat from the airconditioning units. At the velocity of the MANPAD (Mach 2.5) by the time it got close enough to distinguish any discrete heat source, it is too close to make any turns... It actually could hit anywhere on the plane... or miss entirely.

169 posted on 07/18/2006 9:52:20 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson