[Talisker]

And for extra fun. why did the heat seeker hit the fuselage center and separate the forward section, and NOT one of the 4 -enormous- heat sources out on the wings? I know, it was a super secret variant of the stinger....

Obviously because it was radar guided to the center of mass (thus enabling the center fuel tank cover story, where that wouldn't be possible with a heat seeking engine hit). But you made a good point - the missile wasn't a heat seeker, so that gives info on what it could be - and what was needed to launch it. Thanks.

[Lower Deck]

But you made a good point - the missile wasn't a heat seeker, so that gives info on what it could be - and what was needed to launch it. Thanks.

Which is what?

[Moonman62]

Obviously because it was radar guided to the center of mass (thus enabling the center fuel tank cover story, where that wouldn’t be possible with a heat seeking engine hit). But you made a good point - the missile wasn’t a heat seeker, so that gives info on what it could be - and what was needed to launch it. Thanks.

...

According to the NTSB, the very same air conditioning packs below the center tank, which helped make the vapor in the tank flammable by heating, would have been a viable target for a heat seeking missile.