Air France A330 shot at twice during Congo rescue mission

[procede]

Originally Posted by cashash

Thats also a composite fairing. If the aircraft returned to France within 24 hours as the Flightradar pic suggests then there cannot have been any damage to pressure skin. Quick bit of speedtape over the damaged panels, DD in the log book and away it goes.

Carbon fibre is to brittle to really slow down a bullit, so there is probably also a hole in the pressure vessel underneath, unless the bullit hit something else first, like the AC packs.
A hole this size shouldn't really be an issue in any case. Especilly if you reduce the cabin altitude during flight.

[cashash]

Originally Posted by procede

Carbon fibre is to brittle to really slow down a bullit, so there is probably also a hole in the pressure vessel underneath, unless the bullit hit something else first, like the AC packs.
A hole this size shouldn't really be an issue in any case. Especilly if you reduce the cabin altitude during flight.

If a bullet had impacted the pressure skin then it would take longer to repair and get flying than the 12 hours we saw in this instance. The other option is to fly the aircraft back to Paris unpressurised, but as it flew back at 40,000ft I think we can all agree that there was no damage to pressure skin.

[lomapaseo]

Originally Posted by procede

Carbon fibre is to brittle to really slow down a bullit, so there is probably also a hole in the pressure vessel underneath, unless the bullit hit something else first, like the AC packs.
A hole this size shouldn't really be an issue in any case. Especilly if you reduce the cabin altitude during flight.

Brittleness is only a characteristic after you expend the energy during impact (either it gets stopped or penetrates through). I do like the crack stopping ability of carbon fibre though

[Pugilistic Animus]

Originally Posted by Herod

One indication of fakery is the repeated use of the phrase "shot down twice". You can only get shot down once.

You can be shot down twice, dual shot downs are in the QRH for the Congo

[Airbubba]

Originally Posted by Herod

One indication of fakery is the repeated use of the phrase "shot down twice". You can only get shot down once.

[Spooky 2]

Saw several cases of bullet holes in various B707s, DC8s, during the Vietnam war. For the most part they were scab patched and then went on their way.

[Airbubba]

Originally Posted by Spooky 2

Saw several cases of bullet holes in various B707s, DC8s, during the Vietnam war. For the most part they were scab patched and then went on their way.

Years ago I saw a Pan Am 727-200 in MIA with what appeared to be patched bullet holes in the side. It was during the era of Iran-Contra operations in the late 1980's. The rumor was that the plane had been shot up during a management charter south of the border carrying 55 gallon drums of fuel with rifles inside destined for the Contra rebels.

[Old King Coal]

I was in Pointe-Noir two days ago. Customers (pax on our aircraft) told us that Air France sent another (larger) B777 to rescue the situation and that some of their group had travelled out on that one. It was also reported (by our handling agent there) that the altercation occurred when an airport gendarme (whom apparently was intoxicated) approached the parked Air France aircraft but was told to "piss off" (or words to that effect) by independent security contractors whom had been tasked with guarding it. Somewhat aggrieved at being rebuffed, monsieur gendarme then lost the plot, fired off some rounds, the result of which can be seen in the pictures.

[jolihokistix]

The first post mentions 'un Kalash', and in post#8 you can see them taking bullets from the magazine.