So thanks to the UN & the BBC

[UncappedTag]

Next time you need more explosives to rupture the airframe of a 747

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/8548021.stm

[Puggit]

That's great, but the Detroit Christmas Day plane was an Airbus A330

Edited to add - it was also airborne at the time...

Edited by Puggit on Thursday 4th March 11:43

[UncappedTag]

It's good they have at least tested the fuselage, but to then put it out in the public domain is simply preposterous

[jmorgan]

Have I missed the bit where they pressurised the plane to simulate height?

[Mojocvh]

jmorgan said:

Have I missed the bit where they pressurised the plane to simulate height?

Exactly, it popped the outer window too, so not exactly a "non-event"

[Parrot of Doom]

UncappedTag said:

It's good they have at least tested the fuselage, but to then put it out in the public domain is simply preposterous

Why?

[Turbo cab]

jmorgan said:

Have I missed the bit where they pressurised the plane to simulate height?

This.

If the plane was pressurised I feel it would have caused significantly more damage.

[southendpier]

and the door is open.

[jmorgan]

southendpier said:

and the door is open.

What I was getting at. And I would expect a similar constructed airframe to draw any conclusions other wise its an unrelated test with no bearing whatsoever on what the bomber intended and was capable of doing.

[tangent police]

This assumes that the terrorists would be able to make half decent explosives from their suspect reagents, at least in terms of AP.

I'd put money on a home brew bomb being a lot lot lot less powerful than a "test run".

As a one time chemist/chemistry teacher, I have an unnatural interest in "energetic materials" and I can tell you for nothing that there are chemicals which could quite easily escape detection bar destructive sampling which would be get-onable to a plane and would most take it out of the sky. I suppose another hazard is when they stop looking at energetic materials and look at "other things". The interesting thing is the information I have is also freely available.

Deliberate vagueness.... being more specific might arouse the men in black.

[rhinochopig]

jmorgan said:

Have I missed the bit where they pressurised the plane to simulate height?

Unless it was at height it still wouldn't be realistic because the delta P would be different and you couldn't over-pressurise the cabin to match the DP as they're not design for that internal pressure.

And as some have said the bloody door is open which means the internal pressure spike wouldn't be the same.

[pits]

So lets get this right they
Got an old plane
The completely wrong plane, Boeing-Airbus big difference
Didn't mention about it being pressurised
Didn't have proper windows in it


Wow, what a complete waste of time and money, I do hope my TV fee for the BBC Didn't pay for that little test

[jmorgan]

rhinochopig said:

jmorgan said:

Have I missed the bit where they pressurised the plane to simulate height?

Unless it was at height it still wouldn't be realistic because the delta P would be different and you couldn't over-pressurise the cabin to match the DP as they're not design for that internal pressure.

And as some have said the bloody door is open which means the internal pressure spike wouldn't be the same.

Ah. My mistake then on the pressure up bit then. I was under the impression you could to some extent at least for a test. I suppose its a long shot for an old one in a grave yard?

[rhinochopig]

jmorgan said:

rhinochopig said:

jmorgan said:

Have I missed the bit where they pressurised the plane to simulate height?

Unless it was at height it still wouldn't be realistic because the delta P would be different and you couldn't over-pressurise the cabin to match the DP as they're not design for that internal pressure.

And as some have said the bloody door is open which means the internal pressure spike wouldn't be the same.

Ah. My mistake then on the pressure up bit then. I was under the impression you could to some extent at least for a test. I suppose its a long shot for an old one in a grave yard?

Actually now I think about it I'm talking bks - you can over-pressure to match altitude DPs. I've seen them do it

Heres what happens when you go too far:

Edited by rhinochopig on Thursday 4th March 13:27

[jmorgan]

Yikes, quick google shows up what happened there.....

[rhinochopig]

jmorgan said:

Yikes, quick google shows up what happened there.....

Yep was a bit of an oops moment wasn't it. Home made pressure gauge without limit stops IIRC.

[jmorgan]

I suppose many have had that moment at work where you think "oh eck, badgered that. Oh well, back to the stores for a new bit etc". Bet this was a trouser thundering "OH ECK!".