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Continental airliner buzzed by enthusiast model rocket?

by Stevie Smith - May 28 2008, 11:30

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Mike CarrieriMay 28th, 2008 - 13:31:00

Investigate how close model rockets are launched near airports! At this airport is this the first incident? Are there model rocket groups in the area near the airport? If they are then move them! I launched rockets in junior high school, and yes their paths can be unpredictable.

If there is a model rocket group, then issue a permit for someplace else. Or is the airport's flight path over a residential area? It is the FAA that has sole control of U.S. civilian airspace and should use its power to resolve this.

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Blane HillmanMay 28th, 2008 - 18:26:21

In respone to Mark's comment, First thing, to build a large model rocket capable of making 5000 ft in altitude, and still under power ( according to the pilot ) is an undertaking far more complicated than the 'unpredictable' rockets you flew in Jr. High. A rocket to make that altitude under power would have to have been constructed by a serious rocketeer and serious rocketeer would not launch a rocket that size without FAA clearance. Firt of all, it would require a larger launching apparatus than your typical Estes model rocket. The highest flying Estes model rocket reaches an altitude of 2600 feet, so my suspition is the illegal firework. I would not be suprised if the individuals responsible ignited the firework in an attempt to come near the plane. As far as unpredictable flight paths, speaking as a model rocket enthusiast, in order to get a rocket to 5000 feet or higher, it must fly straight as an arrow. If it was indeed a model that had an 'unpredictable' flight pattern, it never would have made 5000 feet.

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RogerMay 30th, 2008 - 20:04:41

According to published reports, neither the pilot or co-pilot said they saw a rocket.

'After arriving safely in Cleveland, the captain of the Continental flight
told investigators what he saw was two miles from the plane and appeared
to be the vapor trail of a rocket. The co-pilot told agents that what he
saw was a more dense black smoke coming from the object.'

It's likely they say a vapor trail (from another plane, not a rocket) high in the air. The difference in apparent color could be caused
by the sun being behind the trail when viewed by the co-pilot.

Any published reports saying the pilots saw a rocket shooting past the cockpit window are totally incorrect.

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OGFJun 5th, 2008 - 14:12:02

I live in houston and I heard the loudest noise coming from the sky on memorial day at 10:20 am, Usually you can hear a plane no matter the altitude, but this time it was so loud it spooked my fiance we gathered the kids and went outside because it sounded like a plane was right over our heads. Now I dont know how loud toy rockets are but that was no toy.
It worries me that the FAA and the FBI are keeping this under the radar because, passengers on flight 1544 and crew members were told to be quiet. Why would they have to be quiet about what they saw if it was a toy rocket. Some have reported that this was a missle. Now, I agree its easier to keep a possible terrorist attack confidential to keep people from panicing. But my concern is this, If that was a missle, why was it in our airspace unnoticed and that close to one of our aircraft. Being that this was Memorial Day its seems fitting for another cruel attack by these terrorist. After 9/11 anything in the sky that comes close to an airplane should not be taken lightly.

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rockets!Jun 20th, 2008 - 06:25:27

I've made quite a few large black powder rockets in my day (and was properly licensed to do so), and even the 2' diameter, nearly two foot long motors will not go higher than 1500-2000 feet. Black powder is about the lowest impulse & least efficient rocket propellant there is. I'm really not sure where someone would be able to buy one of these, either, as they take enough work to construct that they wouldn't be ideal candidates to sell as bootleg fireworks. If the plane was truly at 5000 feet, black powder rockets can be FIRMLY ruled out as the culprit - the high-power rocket guys seem to be looking for an easy scapegoat here, but they've picked one that doesn't jive!

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Evan JJul 8th, 2008 - 19:05:01

Model rocket? That's absurd. The MSM continues to censor the real stories. After all, censorship is becoming America's favorite past-time. The US gov't (and their corporate friends), already detain protesters, ban books like 'America Deceived' from Amazon and shut down Ron Paul. Free Speech forever, tell us the truth MSM.

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Alexander De LargeJul 8th, 2008 - 19:05:42

What actually hit that plane was a UFO, and not a model rocket. Model rocket flyers are safety obsessed, and would never do anything that would endanger commercial aviation.

We are in the middle of a large UFO flap:

data4science.net [slsh] essays.php?EssayID=807

and that is what was responsible for this incident. Period.

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LenJul 8th, 2008 - 20:11:45

It was Allah riding his hummus motored magic broom. He is very angry that Americans insist on having the earth be Spherical when all good Muslims know it's flat as a pita bread.

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DougJul 8th, 2008 - 20:22:44

Could it be the Mossad in cojunction with the Bush/Cheney Neocon cabal, again? Three towers were demolished in New York, five Israeli
mossad agents were arrested and held for three months before being released by the so called 'Homeland Security'. They supposedly worked for the moving company in Secaucus, N.J. and were seen cheering and giving each other high fives after the planes hit the towers. The owner of the so called moving company, Dominick Suter, fled the country the next day on Sept. 12. All were known mossad agents whom appeared on Israeli T.V. See 'The five dancing Israelis.

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DougJul 8th, 2008 - 20:24:29

WOW!! Scary, I wonder if this was an attempt by the Bush/Cheney/Mossad
Cabal to create another terror attack just like 911 when the three towers were demolished and blamed on arab patsies. The mossad was dancing and giving each other high fives across the river. A woman called the police whom arrested five Israeli mossad agents operating under the cover of a moving company in Secaucus, N.J. The Israelis were held for three months and released by our so called 'Homeland Security'. Please excuse my sarcasm. Best Wishes, Doug

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