OK, what the hell has happened to the Brits?

I have seen it said that a bullet hole through the skin would not
cause explosive decompression. I can believe that is true if it is a
small hole, from relatively perpendicular to the skin. What if the
bullet was at a shallow angle to the skin however, as if it had been
fired along the cabin? Then I would imagine the hole would be more
like a long tear, and explosive decompression seems more likely.


If the bullet hits the s in at a shallow angle, there will be much less force
perpendicular to the skin, and it will be less likely to be punctured. The
bullet will just ricochet.

Jose





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(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

(Teacherjh) wrote:

If the bullet hits the s in at a shallow angle, there will be much less force
perpendicular to the skin, and it will be less likely to be punctured. The
bullet will just ricochet.

Jose

My impression is that the skin is not that strong, if you apply a
force to a single point like that. It's more like a balloon or an egg
- strong enough for the forces it is designed for, but vulnerable to
other things. I would be surprised if the skin would deflect a bullet
without sustaining enough damage that a puncture is possible.

Teacherjh wrote:

If the bullet hits the s in at a shallow angle, there will be much less force
perpendicular to the skin, and it will be less likely to be punctured. The
bullet will just ricochet.

I think you've confused the skin of an aircraft with that of an armoured personel
carrier. It won't ricochet off a car, much less a plane. Still, the usual pistol
round is unlikely to do much damage unless it hits a structural frame just right
or hits equipment (such as an engine) outside the cabin.

George Patterson
Great discoveries are not announced with "Eureka!". What's usually said is
"Hummmmm... That's interesting...."

Check out skin thickness on a passenger jet as you enter the door. Jose's
answer is more likely correct. But in any case I'd rather take a chance on
that than knowing the terrorist controls the p lane and we will all be blown
to bits against his target, or shot down by a fighter. No other options,
old chap, unless some of the passengers are armed. There, I prefer air
marshals or myself.
EGB
"Teacherjh" wrote in message
...

I have seen it said that a bullet hole through the skin would not
cause explosive decompression. I can believe that is true if it is a
small hole, from relatively perpendicular to the skin. What if the
bullet was at a shallow angle to the skin however, as if it had been
fired along the cabin? Then I would imagine the hole would be more
like a long tear, and explosive decompression seems more likely.


If the bullet hits the s in at a shallow angle, there will be much less
force
perpendicular to the skin, and it will be less likely to be punctured.
The
bullet will just ricochet.

Jose





--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

In article , "Ed"
writes:

Check out skin thickness on a passenger jet as you enter the door. Jose's
answer is more likely correct. But in any case I'd rather take a chance on
that than knowing the terrorist controls the p lane and we will all be blown
to bits against his target, or shot down by a fighter. No other options,
old chap, unless some of the passengers are armed. There, I prefer air
marshals or myself.

I am surprised so many people cannot see that.

They are so concerned about the unlikely possibility that a stray bullet might
hit them, or something critical, in a shootout with a terrorist, but they are
oblivious to the fact that if that shootout does not take place and the
terrorist succeeds, their death, and many others, are certain.

They give firearms magical powers not supported by reason.

Don

--
Wm. Donald (Don) Tabor Jr., DDS
PP-ASEL
Chesapeake, VA - CPK, PVG