A mistake TWA 800

a reply to: pteridine

It would have to be a massive screw up, and one that they’ve somehow maintained for this long. That’s my big sticking point. Not one crew member has come forward, not one hint has come out. There would be people outside the Navy that would know, but not one person has used it to their advantage. Outside of the SAP community, I don’t think I’ve ever seen something kept this quiet for this long.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: M5xaz

On the civilian side of things maybe. We lost at least four KC-135s to fuel tank explosions. It was only figured out after one went up on the ground, and they found the crew chief with his hand on the fuel pump switch.

Seems like that problem was specific to the KC-135.
No other military aircraft

Never happened to any other 747 before or since, even with over 1500 built, twice the number of KC-135 ever built.
There are about 25 000 commercial airliners of all makes and sizes across the planet, of which 16000 are in the air at any one time.

Happens to NONE of them.


Thus in all probability, and with an involved military member coming forward, TWA 800 was most likely a military #up.
US Navy did it before in 1988 with Iran Air 655


Would be nice if the US Navy could admit to it's screwups

a reply to: M5xaz

It never happened to another 747, but it has happened to other civilian aircraft, even fairly recently. Not all of them were destroyed, but they all suffered major damage. The cargo door on United 811 was the only time a cargo door opened on a 747, that doesn’t mean that it was deliberate, or that the others were safe. It means they got lucky.

Find this by accident today, i dont know more


On July 17, 1996, #TWA800 was blown out of the sky shortly after taking off from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.


Update! Apparently Commander Wray went on to publish a paper called "Two Hands On The Sword - A Study In Political-Military Relations #TWA800 (h/t @WilliamKittel5 )

a reply to: M5xaz

Military used different fuel JP 4 , which had mix of lighter hydrocarbons in the gasoline range , in addition to the kerosene fractions of Jet A It had a flash point of between -23 to -1 C (-10 F - 30 F)

This was to prevent flameouts at high altitudes where the air is very cold and thin

a reply to: firerescue

Documentary on subject

AIR DISASTERS SEASON 11 EPISODE 1

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION EPISODE 2 (2020)

www.youtube.com...