Family of Possible 727 Pilot: He Is Not A Terrorist

ABC News Exclusive ^ | June 19, 2003 | Invesigative Team staff report

[JustAnAmerican]

"This bird is probably at the bottom of a crater somewhere in the rain forest.

Very unlikely, since the plane was stripped and fitted with tanks inside, if that thing did crash the explosion alone would have been picked up for miles. Assuming that a Sat. did not pick it up first.

[ewing]

The American Ailrlines logo had been scratched off the bird.

[MizSterious]

Which would make it easier to paint a new one (using the same airline co. as the stolen transponder)...

[Trust but Verify]

Well, the story I heard was that they were or were going to use it to deliver fuel in Africa. I don't know if that makes sense, is impossible, or just a bad idea. It does seem possible that things we would never consider doing here is done in the assbackwards parts of the world all the time.

[jriemer]

Hope this Padilla doesn't go bad like the other one...

[RoughDobermann]

Here's a reference post about the same story.

[Space Wrangler]

That Padilla was also alleged to have spent some time in FL in the same area and same timeframe as the 9-11 hijackers. Most likely a case of a mercenary pilot securing the plane from a business dispute as was formerly thought, but one never knows.

[ewing]

Rogue Agent perhaps?

[Mr. Quarterpanel]

Personally, the whole idea seems far fetched and comically ameturish.

From what I have been able to gather, the tanks inside are not tied in to the fuel system. From what I know about jet fuel systems,(which is limited) to tie in tanks is a very complicated process requiring specially skilled mechanics and the right parts to re-plumb the jet. Then there is the issue of the fuel lines running through the pressure hull (VERY complicated!).

All that aside, perhaps the plane could get fueled, but the range is still a problem. It takes fuel to haul fuel. And fuel weighs 6 pounds a gallon. Doubling fuel does not double range.

A 727, especially one that is being sought, could not get close to the US without attracting all kinds of unwanted attention. An aircraft at that altitude (20,000+ feet) without a transponder, or one without a filed flight plan, or one that is not following proper flight procedures, or vectoring in from an unusual direction, or one that does not respond to communication....
You get the picture.

I think that this plane will be found scattered over a jungle or savannah in Africa, due to the fact that it was sitting (I am assuming without maintenence) for 14 months. It takes a crew to keep aircraft like that going. The engines have to be run up, fluid levels checked and replaced, etc....

[nevergore]

Your correct...you can extend the range of any airplane by installing reseve tanks in the passenger/cargo compartment as long as you do not exceed the takeoff weight or the load balance......

I ferried planes a looooooong time ago and we routinely loaded reserve tanks in the passenger compartment.

Sounds as though our friend is trying for a long non-stop to somewhere rather than a flying bomb.......

The existing transponder can be set for any code or turned off.....

NeverGore

[cinFLA]

There is still the maximum payload issue. If the plane is too heavy it won't get off the ground. The maximum range fully loaded with ANYTHING is 2,100 miles.

Not if the extra ANYTHING is fuel ...

[cinFLA]

What happened at the WTC was really a 0.5 ton mini nuke in NYC because of the structural damage to the buildings around there.

The buildings survived the impact. It was the fire that took them down.

[_Jim]

Family of Possible 727 Pilot: He Is Not A Terrorist

THIS can't be right, junior sleuths!

Go with your guts - track down the conspriracy that's behind this sinister plot involving a 727 that was repo'd from a man who owed A LOT of people money!

I, personnally am looking forward to the entertainmant value as well as the monumental waste of mental energy and time you'll spend in 'dreaming up' motive, etc. ...

</sarcasm>

[bmwcyle]

Alright he is a thief, a felon....

[poindexter]

"He couldn't put diesel in his 727 tanks.. "

Jet A and diesel fuel are essentially the same.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I thought we figured out this was a repo job. I guess not.

Padilla huh. Any relation to the other Padilla?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

It's for moving diesel fuel around Africa. Try driving a couple of fuel trucks across that continent and see how far you get before your killed.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

He does not look like a terrorist to me.

[ewing]

I was talking about the surrounding buildings, they were damages for blocks around..

[ewing]

So it is possible for him to refuel himself?