reply to post by mikelee
They didn't play the reording because that would be proof that the aircraft had "a hole in it". Wonder how that hole got there
then?
Would you please provide a source for the snippet in your OP?
Because, if you cut and pasted it from the source, it's interesting to note the typo in it. (The word "cockpit" is misspelled).
But, to answer your question. That snip mentioned a loud wind noise, in the final seconds before the recording stopped.
At extremely high airspeeds, the wind noise sound level inside the cockpit will increase in volume, without any need for any "holes" in the
fuselage. The B-757/767 are generally a pleasant cockpit environment when it comes to wind noise, as compared to earlier models with different window
designs, like the B-727 and B-737 (those two, along with the B-707, actually are virtually the same, in cockpit window design). However, the airplane
was well above "normal" speeds typical for that altitude, so the sounds could have been from that.
Besides, IF the airplane (UA 93) had been fired upon, whether via the cannon from an F-16, or an air-to-air missile impact, it's doubtful that the
breach would have been in the area of the cockpit. The cannon would likely have been aimed at a wing, in order to destroy it, and cause an
uncontrollable flight condition, and a missile is usually heat-seeking, so it would aim at an engine.
We see NO evidence, in debris patterns, of either scenario.
(It's interesting to read what one F-16 pilot has said, after that day. I wish I could find it --- He was airborne, actively searching for United
93, but he launched unarmed. His thinking was to possibly RAM the B-757 from behind, using his jet to shear off a wing, and hopefully timing it so
as to eject safely. He wasn't suicidal, just considering his options....)
[edit on 13 January 2010 by weedwhacker]