Way OT (was RE: OT somewhat. China, our aircraft, delays.) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

9 Apr 2001

From: Chris Kennedy &lt;chris(a)mainecoon.com&gt;
...

> 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