[spoilers*] 24s04e16

[meglamaniac]

*If anyone else posts them. I won't but I'm not going to enforce a no spoilers thingy.

Blimey.
I don't quite see how this fits in, seeing now that it's happened, surely Jack has failed at his job?
Unless there's some super implausible getout at the start of next week's, but that would just be shit.

Hmmm.

[Zar]

*Spoilers*

My best bet is that president is probably badly injured.

If he's dead - then that would be the reason why VP was introduced. Either way if this is what Marwan was planning all this time, what will they have for the next few episodes?

Merely catching him can't be interesting enough. He succeeded anwyay.

*Spoilers*

[Phang]

season 5 better have david palmer again

[skiddy]

He won't be dead.

Indirect hit on a 747? A standard 747 will likely not take that kind of damage, stress fractures will develop around the damaged area's and the aircraft would suffer explosive decompression. If this was not the case, then the simple stress on the superstructure or joints caused by the explosion and resulting fractures would likely tear the aircraft apart when it made turns for landing approaches and the likes. What we must remember here is that the aircraft hit by the missile was AF1. It's reinforced and designed specifically to be able to handle and make emergency landings in these kind of situations. That's whats known as contingency planning.

However, we know that AF1 was beginning decent so we can cautiously assume that explosive decompression won't be a great issue here.

Secondly, it was as Chloe said an indirect hit. This will likely result in frame damage and fires. All modern aircraft are equipped with automated firefighting equipment and we can assume that AF1 has the most sophisticated around. Coupled with its structural reinforcement and the modifications that have been made to the aircraft, we can again cautiously assume that it would survive an indirect hit in the fuselage long enough to either put down at the nearest landing strip or make a belly ditch in the desert.

Add into this that US regulations dictate that three in every five miles of Interstate must be straight so that they can be used as airstrips in emergency situations, which I think this likely qualifies for.

A direct hit from what was most likely an AMRAAM would likely cripple the aircraft and bring about it's demise. There can be two schools of thought on this. Firstly, it was not an AMRAAM, but infact an AIM-9 Sidewinder, or variant thereof. This can be assumed because the missile was launched from close range (>10 mile). The second school of though would say that it was infact an AMRAAM, launched from close range but still able to aqquire and intercept it's target because of an assumed direct line of sight. This would give the increased detonation of the larger missile. One would also assume that it was launched from such close range to prevent AF1's missile evasion systems having a chance to react or avert the impact.

What does disturb me is why the fighters were simply covering the aircraft. I accept that their job is to protect the aircraft, and if need be, position their own in between the attacker, but this one is a whole new situation. They were dealing with a stealthed fighter. In that situation, you may as well have AF1 alone without an escort, as the F-117 will have released it's payload, as we seen, before anyone knows its there. After that, there isn't a great deal they can do. Anderson knew this and used it to allow him to get close to AF1 - reducing the margin for error or a miss, subsequently reducing the defence capability and using the element of suprise.

A more intelligent option would have been to leave one fighter with AF1 and begin 5 mile, 10 mile, expanding sweep with the other three aircraft. Due to proximity, a stealth based aircraft is more vunerable when the radar source is closer, as you've more chance of, admittedly, recieving a lucky return signature. On top of this, Anderson would have been more cautious on his approach, slowing him down and possibly spooking him enough to launch the missile from a greater distance, giving AF1 and the remaining fighter time to react.

Thats just my opinion though.

[Dace]

Doesn't AF1 have an escape capsule anyways?

[SYMM]

Don't watch 24, but Skiddy: http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/airstrip.asp

[Azof]

Originally Posted by skiddy

Stuff

This season hasn't been much for continuity, or logical story planning though. The writers are completely relying on suspension of disbelief now, which is mildy annoying.

[Tomkat]

Someone will backstab and then they won't be the backstabber and Jack will cry a bit and then he'll break the rules and be sacked and then be helped by someone on the inside who'll be found out so he'll be in a position where he might die but then he'll miraculously survive because of some quick decision at CTU and then someone inside CTU will be a baddy and try to kill the person helping Jack but they'll be thwarted and then Jack will just in the nick of time manage to save the day.

Then they'll all go home for tea and crumpets.

[Dace]

Originally Posted by Tomkat

Then they'll all go home for tea and crumpets.

I'd rather have a scrumpet with my tea IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*

[JammyJim]

i thought stealth fighters (actually 'low visibility' fighters) were completely susceptible to strong active radar which presumably AF1 and its fighters would have on at all times

the reason it cant be picked up by sam sites and the like is because sam sites operate in a passive search pattern so they dont give away their position too easily. at least thats what i thought but hey i could be totally wrong.

i do know however that 'stealth' fighters can be seen on radar.

[skiddy]

Originally Posted by JammyJim

i thought stealth fighters (actually 'low visibility' fighters) were completely susceptible to strong active radar which presumably AF1 and its fighters would have on at all times

the reason it cant be picked up by sam sites and the like is because sam sites operate in a passive search pattern so they dont give away their position too easily. at least thats what i thought but hey i could be totally wrong.

i do know however that 'stealth' fighters can be seen on radar.

It's effective against active radar as well, but you're correct, it's not as effective.

The basic premise is that the material which the aircraft is coated with attempts to soak up as much of the Electronic emissions as possible, the remaining is bounced off in a different direction by the angles and shape of the fuselage, thus not offering a direct radar return to the source.

Which is why closing in on AF1 to protect the aircraft was, in my opinion, a foolish move.

It's all open for speculation.

[flapjack]

in fact, if I remember correctly, certain bandwiths, which can be used for reasonably accurate radar detection, almost entirely ignore the stealth coating. This type of radar may or may not be in use today, I personally can't be arsed to look it up and wade through hundreds of pages of junk on the way. I do know this type of radar is possible, how usefull it'll be I don't really know.