Way OT (was RE: OT somewhat. China, our aircraft, delays.)

From: ajp166 <ajp166_at_bellatlantic.net>
Date: Mon Apr 9 18:01:46 2001

From: Chris Kennedy <chris_at_mainecoon.com>
>
>> Since the US plane is larger and slower than the Chinese fighters it
>> would be effected more by the turbulence.


The effect of turbulence is based on wing loading and wingspan. the
E-3 having greater wingspan is less impacted as the figher wake
is more localized.

Further international flight rules stipulate that the faster and more
maneuverable plane (fighter) MUST give way to the slower (E-3).


>There's a bunch of problems with the Chinese claim that the EP-3
>made a sudden roll and thus caused the contact:


Even if that were the case the fighers position was such that he
would be invisible to the larger E-3.

>- The photo evidence of the damage isn't consistent with running
> into another airplane. The prop tips are munched, but the props
> are still attached to the gearboxes and the gearboxes and engines
> didn't depart the airframe. The damage is more consistent with
> colliding with birds -- or debris.


It was a close miss, likely the props did some nasty chewing on the
fighter.
Those mounts and gearboxes are very robust on that bird.

>- The radome is missing. I'm at a loss to explain how the radome
> got ripped off the aircraft by contact on the wing -- especially
> given that the fuselage forward of the wing root doesn't appear
> damaged.


Flying peices from the contact could be a factor.

>It looks more like the Fishbed was trying to bump the Aries (which
>essentially consists of passing under the Aires with a delta of
>about +200 knots and pulling vertical) and wasn't up to the task.
>The empennage collided with the radome, peeled the radome and part of
>the empennage off and the Aires in turn plowed through the debris field.


Likely. One common maneuver to rattle the slower bird is pass from the
low and behind and pull up and infront crossing the path of the slower
aircraft. Mistiming can be very bad.


>Like saying that _he_ gave the downed pilot permission to bail out?
>Since when does wing give lead permission to do anything (the usual
>job of wing is to tuck in tight, shut up and listen to guard) -- or
>was the surviving pilot lead, in which case what was the wingman doing
>in a position where the only way he could collide with the Aires
>would have been if the Aires went into Beta thrust?


Exactly. Inconsistant stories. Add to that the chinese pilots do
not get the air time the US pilots do and have less proficientcy.

Allison
Received on Mon Apr 09 2001 - 18:01:46 BST