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MH370 flew as low as 1,500m to avoid detection, says paper
The Malaysian Insider ^ | 17 March 2014 | The Malaysian Insider

Posted on 03/16/2014 9:30:37 PM PDT by Meet the New Boss

As the search for the missing flight MH370 enters its 10th day with few clues as to its whereabouts, the New Straits Times said today the Boeing 777-200ER dropped 5,000 feet (1,500m) to evade commercial radar detection.

In an exclusive story, the government-backed paper said investigators analysing MH370’s flight data revealed that the 200-tonne, fully laden twinjet descended 1,500m or even lower to evade commercial (secondary) radar coverage after it turned back from its flight path en route to Beijing.

snip

Investigators poring over MH370’s flight data had said the plane had flown low and used “terrain masking” as it flew over the Bay of Bengal and headed north towards land, the NST reported.

snip

“Terrain masking” refers to an ability to position an aircraft so there is natural earth hiding it from the radio waves sent from the radar system. It is a technique mostly used in aerial combat where military pilots would fly at extremely low elevations upon normally hilly or mountainous terrain to “mask” their approach.

Experts said flying a Boeing 777 in such a way would be dangerous, stressing the airframe and possibly causing those on board to be air sick and suffer from spatial disorientation.

(Excerpt) Read more at my.news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iran; malaysia; maldives; mh370; thailand; waronterror
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To: Meet the New Boss

Weird writing... it actually says it dropped 5,000 feet, not it dropped TO 5,000 feet. BIG difference.

And even then, terrain masking is a helluva lot lower than 5,000 feet!

And it took them a week to figure this out? Article says “experts” are “poring over” the data - as if you got a bunch of guys crouched over miles of ticker-tape in a smoke-filled room. Gimme a break.

None of these “expert explanations” adds up. Reminds me of all of the TWA 800 experts that starting sounding ridiculous. Maybe this will be the same way - silence all the questioners, come out with an “official” report, and jam it down the world’s throat. God knows there’s enough conscienceless shills that will back anything up for a price - or even a gold star and a pat on the head.


21 posted on 03/16/2014 9:47:42 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

That’s not the only relevant area. Practically the entire southern Indian Ocean is in play.


22 posted on 03/16/2014 9:48:21 PM PDT by Meet the New Boss
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To: steve86

Stay below Va and there is no significant stress.


23 posted on 03/16/2014 9:49:49 PM PDT by CFIIIMEIATP737
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To: Talisker

It’s easy to drop altitude without gaining speed...if you know how to do it.


24 posted on 03/16/2014 9:49:56 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: steve86

Stay below Va and there is no significant stress.


25 posted on 03/16/2014 9:51:00 PM PDT by CFIIIMEIATP737
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To: steve86; CFIIIMEIATP737
CFIIIMEIATP737: Why is the airframe stressed?

steve86: Look up maneuvering speed and turbulence and start learning about aviation.

You didn't answer the question, steve. And you treated it as if it was being asked from a naive point of view, rather than a sophisticated one. There are multiple levels this question can be asked from.

And you picked the most insulting one, that didn't require you to answer anything yourself.

What a coincidence.

26 posted on 03/16/2014 9:51:57 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: txhurl

I dunno. No further updates that I have seen.

The oil rig workers story was interesting as well.

No follow up there either.

Cover up of major proportions is what I think.


27 posted on 03/16/2014 9:52:59 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: Meet the New Boss

Article doesn’t match headline. Flying at 1,500 meters is very different from losing 1,500 meters.

Flying at 1,500 meters burns a lot of fuel, and even more getting back up to altitude.

If they flew at 1,500 meters for even 30 minutes, it shortens their range.

You avoid secondary radar by turning off the transponder.

You avoid primary radar with maneuvers.


28 posted on 03/16/2014 9:53:29 PM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: Meet the New Boss

Keep shooting up that hopium.


29 posted on 03/16/2014 9:54:23 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: ltc8k6

There are 2,000 meter mountains on Malaysia, iirc.


30 posted on 03/16/2014 9:54:25 PM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: Jack Hydrazine

“It’s easy to drop altitude without gaining speed...if you know how to do it.”

You are correct, Jack. I did that today coming from FL340 to pattern altitude in San Antonio in my jet. I had a Piper Meridian in front of me and and American Airlines MD80 behind me. ATC had us make several speed changes during our descent to not run over the small, slower aircraft.


31 posted on 03/16/2014 9:54:26 PM PDT by CFIIIMEIATP737
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To: CFIIIMEIATP737

As though a crazed Jihadist (whether the original pilot or not) is going to be circumspect about remaining below Va.


32 posted on 03/16/2014 9:54:32 PM PDT by steve86 (to the nearest on-shore cell tower or repeater).)
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To: Kackikat

After Iran.....

My guess for the missing plane’s next destination:

#1 Israel, packed with radioactive material (Dirty Bomb).
#2 USA, packed with radioactive material (Dirty Bomb).

Unless Obamatollah provided a nuke to Iran, knowing he might be thrown out of office soon due to Arpaio-style criminal exposure.


33 posted on 03/16/2014 9:55:08 PM PDT by LyinLibs (If victims of islam were more "islamophobic," maybe they'd still be alive.)
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To: steve86

Why are you focused on Va versus any other aspect of flight safety that the ‘crazed jihadist’/skilled pilot may or may not observe?


34 posted on 03/16/2014 9:58:20 PM PDT by CFIIIMEIATP737
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To: LyinLibs

Or plans a lifelong presidential appointment.


35 posted on 03/16/2014 9:58:22 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: ltc8k6

You avoid primary radar with maneuvers.


And the pilot was Ace... just not Ace enough, I can see his craft in sat photos 20ft deep in 260’ water just off Pulau Palak.


36 posted on 03/16/2014 10:03:06 PM PDT by txhurl
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To: txhurl

Yup.

I saw the same photos. Waiting right now, for someone to say they found the plane.

5 miles from the island, they say. Now I can’t say for certain, but it sure sounded possible to me.


37 posted on 03/16/2014 10:07:33 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network ( http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html#2013)
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To: txhurl

The 1,500 meter altitude is clearly incorrect. It never flew that low, imo.

Plus, we would likely have had cellphones connect to towers.

It descended 1,500 meters to avoid primary radars. Such as, from 9,500 meters to 8,000 meters.

When you are at a distance from the radar, you don’t need to drop far to avoid it.


38 posted on 03/16/2014 10:08:47 PM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: steve86

“Look up maneuvering speed and turbulence and start learning about aviation. “

And the more fuel it burns off the worse the g forces on the structure become.


39 posted on 03/16/2014 10:11:03 PM PDT by vette6387
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To: ltc8k6

I’m assuming you did see the sat photo from Tuesday with a plane under the surface and a debris field to the east of it?


40 posted on 03/16/2014 10:11:55 PM PDT by txhurl
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