Missing Malaysia Airlines MH370... Thread 4

[GoldieMumbles]

Thread 1

Thread 2

Thread3

I think I'm finally ready for the tin foil hat.

Yep, glad you are back goldie!

Msr

Lessons, there's nothing to suggest the satcom antenna works without power. So the engine must have been running (or the pings have been faked.) I'm not sure it's in the tailfin, either, I think the 777 has it on the 'roof' ... which is a shame; I liked your idea of a pinger floating forlornly in the ocean.

Msrisotto, English isn't my first language, what does 'tin foil hat' represent?

The silence on the news front today is deafening. And very weird. Hope this doesn't become old news.

Eustacia I asked the same question on thread three. The answer was that it's very unlikely.

I know there were listening devices in the Atlantic during WW2. Just wondering if there's anything similar in the Indian Ocean, etc?

Virtual this is the Wiki definition of tin foil hat

Explanation of Tin Foil Hat expression

Interesting BBC article about the main theories so far

Virtual it's a joke about people who are obsessed with conspiracy theories. The hat (made by the wearer, out of foil) 'stops' alien or government thought control rays

Ah, Garlic, that makes sense, but is a shame.

Nobody is saying anything.
Countries dont want to say where there radar reaches are.
This could indeed go into history.

Mainly a lurker on these very informative threads but welcome back Goldie the lack of media attention today is worrying. I do hope that this does not just fade into the background and all the families are left worrying and still hoping what a terrible situation for them.

"The hat (made by the wearer, out of foil) 'stops' alien or government thought control rays"

Oh that sounds handy . I shall get one of those when the time is right .

Just a quick de-lurk to say thank you to Goldie. Classy indeed

"Mine is that when the plane crashed into the sea, the tailfin (with the pinger and black box in it) broke off and floated for a period of time and then sank more than a mile under water. The Air France tailfin floated for a while and was recovered whilst still on the surface of the ocean. It would explain why the pings still kept coming after a crash which was fatal to all on board (and all mobile phones submerged and useless).

Goldie - is this possible?"

If I understand what you're asking properly (no guarantee), then no. The black boxes (the voice and data recorders) are indeed located at the back end of the aircraft, but not in the tailfin (tailfins are notorious for not being located with the main debris). The system that's been pinging is not. The box that's been pinging is located in the electronics bay below the cockpit and the antenna is located on the top skin of the fuselage - on its back.

Thanks very much and yes, that was what I was asking - Garlic also said that it wasn't in the tailfin .

"Goldie is this true?"

"I think black box locators have a minimum of 30 days battery so could last longer (the one on the Air France crash was still going 2 years later)"

^^ this is right. The 30 days is the bare minimum requirement but they actually last much longer than this. That quote about AF447 is right - they were still transmitting 2 years later.

"I know there were listening devices in the Atlantic during WW2. Just wondering if there's anything similar in the Indian Ocean, etc?"

Not that 'they' would ever tell us but I'd be really surprised if the Americans don't have a system listening for submarines. I'd imagine that Diego Garcia is VERY well protected given its strategic importance for their global reach.

Don't be glum lessons. It's not a silly question. Fins have a hoofing great (technical term ) antenna in the front (leading edge) towards the bottom. It's usually painted over so you don't see it. But all of the electronic gubbins (see - well technical tonight) is located in the EE bay under the cockpit, including all the boxes for those things we discussed beofre, like ADS-B, VHF, VDR & TCAS (pay attention at the back - there'll be a test on abbreviations and acronyms on Friday morning )

www.wired.com/autopia/2014/03/mh370-electrical-fire/

Has anyone seen this (forgotten how to do links on a phone

From a pilot basically saying fire, pilot was trying to head to another airport, flight crew overcome plane crashed when it ran out if fuel

Aha! I am indeed paying attention but I had assumed they wouldn't put technical gizmos in the front because of potential damage on collision, but I know enough to know those engineers know what they are doing!

DH has man flu so I'm sneaking back on :)

Thanks goldie and member I was a bit astounded at ABC's black box claim so pleased to read it's more sensationalist journalism.

^^ sorry that should read you engineers

It just all looks so bleak doesn't it?

"Anything that's connected to a 'network' can potential be hacked into and manipulated / hijacked. However, I remember that it was said that the communication systems had to be shut down by hand. "

true-but where's the network coming from?

If there is no phone signal, no radar, etc then there's not going to be, I dunno, wifi access. And if whoever has done this actually has control of a military satellite, then a. we have bigger problems and b. why they would use this technology to nick a civilian plane is probably the bigger question.

If the passenger is onboard the plane and controlling from within the plane then I would have thought locating the hijacker would be very easy, possibly even doable from the cockpit.

And surely, there will be a way to perform a manual override and, if absolutely necessary, fly visually while calling for help?