On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:23:39 -0500, "Morgans"
wrote:


Still, it held in one piece, due to the smooth water and the excellent
touchdown. That says plenty.

I'd give Airbus a pat on the back, too...

Yep. I intended to imply that, but I guess I didn't.

I'm not so sure one of the other major manufacturer's aircraft would not
have done as well, given the same circumstances. Doubtful we would know,
since it is doubtful (and hopeful) that the same circumstances will ever
happen again. I would say that this was a one of a kind situation.

Well, Boeing has shown over the years that the vertical fins on some
of their models are really only decorative...

A B-52H lost virtually all of its vertical stab in turbulence over the
Rockies back in the early '60s, and still landed safely. In the early
'90s, an E-6 (707-320) lost its entire vertical stab over the Olympic
mountains west of Seattle and returned uneventfully (save the extra
laundry truck on hand) to Boeing Field.