From: jeff davis (jrd1415@yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Sep 25 2001 - 22:41:48 MDT
I wrote:
"I don't see how fifty or a hundred or even two
hundred
bullet holes through the fuselage of a large airliner
would do anything more than depressurize the plane."
"I think this is something like an urban legend."
To which Mike replied:
>The bullet would create a hole that would be spread
>open like a peeled spam can for at least a foot or
>two by the pressure differential.
No disrespect meant, but I really need an
authoritative reference in support of this assertion.
Aluminum is tough and ductile, and the pressure
differential is only 14.7 psi. If the bullet rips a
long gash, as it penetrates the outer skin at a
shallow angle, combined with strong (~700mph) airflow
forces impinging on the rough edges of the "exit
wound", then perhaps, a large blow-out might occur.
I'll be glad to concede the point if someone can show
me something concrete.
>Anyone within 6-10 feet who was not belted down would
>get sucked out (depending
>on altitude, of course.
Through a two foot wide hole, quite possibly. But if
it were merely a bullet hole, you could safely place
your finger over the hole, even at 40,OOO ft. You'd
get a hickey, but it wouldn't even break the skin.
Best, Jeff Davis
"Everything's hard till you know how to do it."
Ray Charles
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