Flight 77 question?

[Garyurbach]

OK, trying a new heading, just in case:

I am debating online with somebody who claims the descending turn of the Boeing
757 over the DC mall was some aerobatic maneuver.

I am betting a 757 can do that without unduly stressing the plane, in emergency
conditions.

He turned 270 degrees in 2.5 minutes, and dropped quite a bit (don't know how
much).

While this might not be somethign you do with passengers, it is doable, right?

We did something LIKE this in Cessnas; the emergency descent 45 degree turn.
Not trying to say the two are equivalent, just using an example.

Is there anybody out there who can help me on this? Thanks.

[Billy Beck]

On 04 Jun 2004 17:32:10 GMT, (Garyurbach) wrote:

>OK, trying a new heading, just in case:
>
>I am debating online with somebody who claims the descending turn of the Boeing
>757 over the DC mall was some aerobatic maneuver.
>
>I am betting a 757 can do that without unduly stressing the plane, in emergency
>conditions.
>
>He turned 270 degrees in 2.5 minutes, and dropped quite a bit (don't know how
>much).

A "standard rate turn" goes at three degrees per second. That's
180 degrees in one minute.

Even accounting for the descent, I would say that anyone calling
that "aerobatic" is not worth arguing with.


Billy

http://www.two--four.net/weblog.php

[Jack]

Garyurbach wrote:

> I am debating online with somebody who claims the descending turn of the Boeing
> 757 over the DC mall was some aerobatic maneuver.

There is nothing particularly unusual or demanding about the kinds of maneuvers
required for the 9-11 attacks.



Jack
Retired 757 Captain