Voyager Plummets (Merged)
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Roland, if you feel the AF 296 investigation was a conspiracy then read beagles last post as he sums it up perfectly. The only difference is the crew didn't buy the farm but in fact spent years acrimoniously blaming the aircraft for the accident. All but the most determined Elvis-spotters accept it was not caused by any fault with the aircraft. Why are we even discussing AF 296 in connection with this event?
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According to Plane Finder Voyager ZZ335 / RRR2724 was squawking 7600 over Bristol today at 1254z, was only for a short while so poss switch pigs.
There's some very unusual allocations, such as 4442 to 4446... Reserved for operations above FL600 for Lockheed from Air Force Plant 42 (USA).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transponder_(aviation)
Early Voyager Radio problems and their resolution
WARNING: thread drift
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Chapter11.html
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Chapter11.html
In late November 1977, while the two Voyagers were still on route to Jupiter, one of Voyager 2's two duplicate radio transmitters began to degrade. It was switched to low-power mode to nurse it along. Something was wrong, but there was no way to know exactly what. Months later, in April 1978, the Voyager team discovered that Voyager 2's backup receiver had failed to detect signals sent from Earth because of a shorted capacitor. The primary radio receiver suddenly failed completely, as well. Voyager 2 was silent. Continuing to Uranus and Neptune was no longer possible, unless a way could be found to communicate with the backup receiver. Moreover, the failure of the Voyager 2 primary radio system had potential repercussions beyond the Voyager project. Its radio equipment was very similar to that on Pioneer Venus, which was launched the following month, in May 1978. 78
Normally, the radio receiver automatically compensated for the Doppler shift of signals transmitted from Earth. The changing velocity and direction of the spacecraft relative to Earth caused this Doppler shift. Without the ability to compensate for the Doppler shift, the Voyager 2 radio system could not detect any signals sent to it. The solution to Voyager 2's radio problems came from NASA Deep Space Network engineers. They prepared computer tapes that slowly varied the frequency of the radio signals transmitted from Earth in order to compensate for the expected Doppler shift. The Deep Space Network station outside Madrid transmitted the first test signals on April 13, 1978. Fifty-three minutes later, Voyager 2's acknowledgement returned. The trick worked. As a backup measure, in October 1978, Voyager 2's memory banks were loaded to the brim with commands that would provide
Normally, the radio receiver automatically compensated for the Doppler shift of signals transmitted from Earth. The changing velocity and direction of the spacecraft relative to Earth caused this Doppler shift. Without the ability to compensate for the Doppler shift, the Voyager 2 radio system could not detect any signals sent to it. The solution to Voyager 2's radio problems came from NASA Deep Space Network engineers. They prepared computer tapes that slowly varied the frequency of the radio signals transmitted from Earth in order to compensate for the expected Doppler shift. The Deep Space Network station outside Madrid transmitted the first test signals on April 13, 1978. Fifty-three minutes later, Voyager 2's acknowledgement returned. The trick worked. As a backup measure, in October 1978, Voyager 2's memory banks were loaded to the brim with commands that would provide
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And a little more thread drift, being totally sad I have Plane Finder set to alert on 75, 76 & 7700. It's amazing the amount of Sleazy Jets that squawk 7700 in a week. A lot of medical emergencies but I wonder how many are fuel priorities given their alleged propensity for cutting fuel corners?
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I suspect Easyjet are crewed by very well trained and capable pilots. Do you honestly think they would routinely put their little pink bodies at risk by carrying so little fuel as to regularly require Mayday Calls? 
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Easyjet have a lot of aircraft -just short of 200, and they're all flying most of the day. I haven't heard any allegations of them cutting corners, fuel or otherwise. Are you making one?
Last edited by ShotOne; 3rd Mar 2014 at 09:27.
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I'm not but I believe Channel 4 did not so many weeks ago, I seem to recall that an Orange and a Green airline were implicated and allegedly heads rolled for talking to the program, just sayin'
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Wrong airline mate. But yes, heads did roll. Interestingly C4's principal charge against Ryanair was of having a "non-transparent safety culture". Does that perhaps bring us back on-thread?