Re: [ME] Re: Crippled US EP-3

[Shawn Mulock <01340743@xxxxxxxx>]

Ryan Pendergast wrote:

> >Insofar as water landings, I suggest you re-read a good physics book on
> >fluid dynamics.
>
> Or talk to a pilot.  These are aircrew and technicians, not kamikazes.
> Landing on water is a bad idea, worse even than landing in an unfriendly
> country who has told you not to do so.
>
> Ryan

I have to agree, when you have a large aircraft (an EP-3EII Aries for
example) it will most likely break up, but not only that, the damn thing
stands a good chance of cartwheeling as well. An Ethiopian 767(I think)
commandeered by terrorists trying to get to Australia did one and it is a
heck of a lot more aerodynamic than the EP-3E (and the 767 was not damaged
prior to ditching). Needless, the 767 did not come out alright. The only
other thing they could have done was jump and let the great bastard crash
into the ocean. Of course the sharks the South China Sea area is famous for
are not going to arrest the crew...

I am familiar with open water jumps and can say they are challenging for
those trained to do just that, an aircrew may have reviewed it within the
last six months, but they might have never done. Of course what about
injuries, the blood will attract those aforementioned sharks.

Also, that flight crew did a hell of a job bringing that plane down
asymetrically (All failed engines and control surfaces on one side). If the
reports above are true, then that plane was missing both engines on one
side... not pretty when you consider the aerodynamic distrubance created by
the windmilling props as well as the additonal loss of artificial lift/drag
created by the affected airfoil. All of a sudden these guys are looking at a
triple (possibly quadruple) whammy....
1.No engines on one side.
2.Increased drag on same side.
3.Loss of artificial lift from prop slip-stream.
possibly4.The loss of control surfaces on one side.

This just gets better and better...and people wonder why I never joined the
Airforce...

S.