[EternalHope]

The plane would still be seen on radar, even with the Transponder turned off.

Not necessarily.

I've got a fair amount of experience in this area (B-52's, a long time ago). A plane flying at low level is very hard to spot on radar, especially if it follows the right route. Even if flying high enough to be painted by radar, the typical ground control radar would not necessarily spot it.

An AWACS could spot it, but only if one was in the air and in the right place.

However, a plane flying at low altitude will use a lot more fuel than it would flying at a higher altitude. Hence it is likely to have MUCH less range than you would otherwise expect.

[ChadGore]

Re: (B-52's, a long time ago)

YOU ROCK !

[Common Tator]

However, a plane flying at low altitude will use a lot more fuel than it would flying at a higher altitude. Hence it is likely to have MUCH less range than you would otherwise expect.

Flying below radar would attract a lot of notice. And it is not likely a plane having flown 600Km would have a lot of fuel left. Certainly not to a position where it could be used to attack the Olympics at Athens.

There is a significant amount of General aviation air traffic in Europe. I have a friend who has made a good living exporting everything from used 152s to King Airs to Europe and several nations that border the Mediterranean.

Radar picks them up easily from VFR minimum radar heights. To get below radar, this plane would have to fly very low by airliner ore even General aviation standards.

But the point is mostly mute. This baby is likely burning after exploding in mid air. It was not stolen to attack the Olympics. Both planes were likely taken down by on board explosives to puhish the Russians for some percieved misdeed.