Quote:
Originally posted by Rudey
Someone else on GC sent me this video too. I don't believe it but, seriously, how come the hole was so small?
-Rudey
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Anytime you have an airplane (built of mostly lightweight materials such as aluminum, composites, etc.) traveling at high speed into a masonry building, there's not gonna be much left of it. On top of that, the hot fire caused by burning Jet-A fuel probably melted much of what remained of the wreckage. Only a few parts made of high-temperature and strength materials (engine turbine blades, for example) will survive such a severe impact and fire.
A 757 is a narrow-bodied aircraft (6 abreast seating in coach); the two aircraft that struck the Twin Towers were 767s, which are wide-bodied aircraft (7-8 abreast seating in coach).
AA 11 and UA 171 were 767-200s, AA 77 and UA 93 were 757-200s.
Later investigation and analysis of the crash videos of the WTC1 and 2 impacts estimated the aircraft were traveling at nearly 500 miles an hour when they impacted. A substantial piece of one of the engines and landing gear of UA 171 (the one that struck WTC2) landed about two blocks north of the WTC site.
The section of the Pentagon that was struck by AA77 was the first section of a remodeled Pentagon building just days away from being formally dedicated; had it struck one of the older sections of the Pentagon, the damage would have been even more catastrophic.
AA - American Airlines. UA - United Airlines.