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RE: Analysis from a JHU CS Prof

  • From: Youse, Chuck
  • Date: Wed Sep 12 06:28:09 2001

Not to mention, forgetting the precision (I second the idea that it takes
greater skill than people think to crash a plane), simply navigating these
puppies over great distances and finding the targets would require a good
amount of training.  Yes, yes, GPS and other relatively new navigational
goodies make this a lot easier than it would have been, say 20 years ago,
but trust me, it's not point-and-click.

It may be just coincidental that they utilized Boeing aircraft for this, as
Airbus planes have trickier autopilot and collision-avoidance systems that
would make intentionally flying into a building in an otherwise healthy
airplane rather difficult.

Chuck Youse

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Stewart [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 6:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Analysis from a JHU CS Prof



At 10:26 PM 9/11/2001, Petr Swedock wrote:
>The planes were hijacked with knives and re-routed over large
>distances: which leads me to believe the original pilots were
>long dead.
>
>The two towers were struck with great precision: it's not as
>easy as it sounds.
>
>The pentagon was *landed* on... in a most precise manner:  It
>takes a hell of a flyer to put a plane down like that.
>
>There were no fly-bys and/or go-rounds.
>
>There were no near misses.
>
>There is no doubt in my mind that those in control of the
>planes were skilled pilots.

Keep in mind as well that airspeed would be critical for maximum effect.

Moving too fast, the plane flies right through the building, certainly 
causing massive damage and almost certainly starting a fire.  However, 
that's not optimal.

Fly too slowly, and you're on the edge of a stall - no laughing matter in 
any aircraft, but especially critical in these cases, due to the maneuvers 
every aircraft performed.  Also, fly too slowly, you might not completely 
penetrate the building.

 From the beginning, there's been no doubt that the pilots were type-rated 
on the Boeing 757/767, nor has there ever been any doubt, at least in my 
mind, that these were not American or United pilots... with the possible 
exception of the United flight that crashed in PA.