TWA 800: Jim Kallstrom’s Road to Redemption

American Thinker ^ | June 20, 2016 | Jack Cashill

[UCANSEE2]

I don’t believe it’s reasonable to assume that the TWA 747 stalled instantaneously

I don't either. It's reasonable to assume that momentum carried it for a second or two. Add the possibility of the engines still providing thrust, and maybe a few more seconds before it started it's meandering descent.

But do you believe it climbed 3000 feet ?

[Moonman62]

I don't either. It's reasonable to assume that momentum carried it for a second or two. Add the possibility of the engines still providing thrust, and maybe a few more seconds before it started it's meandering descent.

I think it's too complex a problem to do in the head. It requires a computer doing a simulation. As I've said before, Boeing came up with a range of numbers to make a model for the noseless 747. The NTSB ran multiple simulations and came up with some solutions that fit the radar data and the location of the wreckage. The NTSB did say that thrust from the engines made little difference to the simulated path, whether the thrust was zero or one hundred percent.

But do you believe it climbed 3000 feet ?

It's a complex problem requiring a simulation using numerical methods on a computer. As far as I can tell the NTSB is the only one to run a simulation. If somebody else were to do the same, I'd certainly take a serious look at it. I'd also be interested if somebody could come up with a ballistic simulation that could match the radar data and wreckage location as well as the NTSB flight simulation.

[GBA]

Taildraggers? That makes you a real pilot!

Wow! Quite an instructor to have had and that's definitely the kind of flying I'd like to be doing these days...right now, as a matter of fact. It's been a beautiful morning to go flying.

Speaking of taildraggers, I've had my mind and heart set on building a Glasair Sportsman for years now, but I still don't have the time and space to devote to a project like that.

Part of my ongoing "five year plan" that I've not gotten around to yet.

"One of these days..."

[archy]

Quite an instructor to have had and that's definitely the kind of flying I'd like to be doing these days...right now, as a matter of fact. It's been a beautiful morning to go flying.

Wifey is a 5K hours rotorhead, and though I'm not all that fond of those inverted lawnmowers, she's trying mightily to get me to pick up my rotary-wing ticket, with her in the left-hand seat, of course. I'm thinking about it.

But I've also been giving some thought to getting some UAV time. It's a different attitude and skillset, but the same physics and aerodynamics. We shall see.

[archy]

Quite an instructor to have had and that's definitely the kind of flying I'd like to be doing these days...right now, as a matter of fact. It's been a beautiful morning to go flying.

Wifey is a 5K hours rotorhead, and though I'm not all that fond of those inverted lawnmowers, she's trying mightily to get me to pick up my rotary-wing ticket, with her in the left-hand seat, of course. I'm thinking about it.

But I've also been giving some thought to getting some UAV time. It's a different attitude and skillset, but the same physics and aerodynamics. We shall see.