[mewzilla]

Well, at least this is a little more sophisticated that the flying frozen Butterball hypothesis. Gotta give'em points for trying. And, while they're at it, maybe they can explain why the 8 mi distance between the planes that was first reported has suddenly decreased to less than five? Or why the flight controllers would violate the time allowed between planes for take off (if in fact they did. Betcha the flight controllers get the blame now. Especially since, as federal workers, they CAN'T be sued.)

[unending thunder]

Just did a Google "Flutter aircraft", big library on this, conferences, there are flutter engineers, who specialise in Aeroelasticity, even low cost PC Finite Element analysis programs.

Here's a definition ; Aerospace Magazine

Flutter is a phenomena which can lead to the catastrophic loss of an aircraft in flight. It needs to be addressed from initial design through flight test and certification. The earlier on in an aircraft program that a potential problem can be discovered, understood, and prevented ("fixed") the less money it will cost to implement the "fix". Fixes can include additional structure (weight penalty), and/or aerodynamic modifications (could result in lower aircraft performance which may lead to more fuel required to perform a mission, etc.).

Presumably, since they have been making these things for nearly 20 years, the appropriate analysis has been done and refined. If an object the size of the rudder "fluttered" sufficently to be ripped offf it would show internal /external damage?

I think it's the paint, probably to cut costs they got it at WalMart and Sam didn't tell them about it's special flutter properties. Maybe all the passengers were followers of Maharishi and doing some Yogic flying casuing synchronised flutter, bad Karma could do this to one of the strongest structures man makes.