Changes

The first missile was radar-controlled and proximity-fused, designed to detonate 50 meters from an aircraft. It exploded at exactly 18:26:02—exactly five hours, 26 minutes and 18 seconds after KAL 007 began its taxi to takeoff from Anchorage, Alaska.  Sending fragments forward, this missile either severed or unraveled the crossover cable from the left inboard elevator to the right elevator. This with damage to one of the four Hydraulic systems (3 of the 4 systems were damaged or out), caused KAL 007 to ascend from 35,000 ft. to 38,250 ft. at which point Capt. Chun, disengaging the auto-pilot and taking manual control, was able to bring it down. For the one minute and 44 seconds Digital Flight Data Recorder charting of KAL 007's post-attack ascent from 35,000ft. to 38,250ft, quick descent again to 35,000ft., after a 10 second pull-up of the aircraft's nose, and beginning gradual descent, see [http://www.rescue007.org/chart8.htm].  

The first missile was radar-controlled and proximity-fused, designed to detonate 50 meters from an aircraft. It exploded at exactly 18:26:02—exactly five hours, 26 minutes and 18 seconds after KAL 007 began its taxi to takeoff from Anchorage, Alaska.  Sending fragments forward, this missile either severed or unraveled the crossover cable from the left inboard elevator to the right elevator. This with damage to one of the four Hydraulic systems (3 of the 4 systems were damaged or out), caused KAL 007 to ascend from 35,000 ft. to 38,250 ft. at which point Capt. Chun, disengaging the auto-pilot and taking manual control, was able to bring it down. For the one minute and 44 seconds Digital Flight Data Recorder charting of KAL 007's post-attack ascent from 35,000ft. to 38,250ft, quick descent again to 35,000ft., after a 10 second pull-up of the aircraft's nose, and beginning gradual descent, see [http://www.rescue007.org/chart8.htm].  

The fragments also caused punctures to the pressurized passenger cabin. All the punctures together amounted to a total of 1 3/4 sq. feet, too small, even together, for anyone to be sucked out by decompression. This was determined by the 11 seconds it took for the air to begin rushing out of the cabin before the alarm was set off picked up by the Cockpit Voice Recorder (ICAO '93, Information Paper 1., pg. 93).  

'''The fragments also caused punctures to the pressurized passenger cabin. All the punctures together amounted to a total of 1 3/4 sq. feet, too small, even together, for anyone to be sucked out by decompression. This was determined by the 11 seconds it took for the air to begin rushing out of the cabin before the alarm was set off picked up by the Cockpit Voice Recorder (ICAO '93, Information Paper''' 1., pg. 93).  

Congressman [[Larry McDonald]], seated in an aisle seat of the first class section was most likely unharmed though there may well have been wounded or dead in the rear section struck by missile fragments. There was a sufficient supply of oxygen for comfortable breathing. Aviation Specialist Dr. Malcolm Brenner explains: '''“Crew members and passengers would have about one minute of expected useful consciousness unless they successfully began receiving oxygen from an oxygen mask'''.” Well within that critical “one minute of expected useful consciousness,” the oxygen masks had already deployed and, because of the upward pitch of the aircraft’s nose for most of its ascent leg of the 1 minute and 13 second arc upward, the masks were drifting back toward or behind the heads of the passengers, within easy reach (If airline regulations had been followed, adults would have donned their masks first before putting them on their children).  

Congressman [[Larry McDonald]], seated in an aisle seat of the first class section was most likely unharmed though there may well have been wounded or dead in the rear section struck by missile fragments. There was a sufficient supply of oxygen for comfortable breathing. Aviation Specialist Dr. Malcolm Brenner explains: '''“Crew members and passengers would have about one minute of expected useful consciousness unless they successfully began receiving oxygen from an oxygen mask'''.” Well within that critical “one minute of expected useful consciousness,” the oxygen masks had already deployed and, because of the upward pitch of the aircraft’s nose for most of its ascent leg of the 1 minute and 13 second arc upward, the masks were drifting back toward or behind the heads of the passengers, within easy reach (If airline regulations had been followed, adults would have donned their masks first before putting them on their children).  

===Flight Capability Evaluation===

===Flight Capability Evaluation===

The measure of KAL 007 potential and actual controllability are the following  9 indications :  

'''The measure of KAL 007 potential and actual controllability are the following  9 indications :  

:1. Sufficient oxygen for pilot alertness (flight crew speaking through microphones within oxygen masks).  

 

:2. All engines were operating normally (as reported twice by co-pilot to Capt. Chun after missile detonation).  

'''1. Sufficient oxygen for pilot alertness (flight crew speaking through microphones within oxygen masks).'''

:3. Electrical system was operative (otherwise the radio and engines would not have operated).  

 

:4. Demonstrated pilot ability to decrease speed of KAL 007 in its downward phase (If he would not have been able to do so, the aircraft would continue to increase its downward acceleration—only to collide with the water in from 2 to 2 1/2 minutes rather than maintain its over 12 minute post-detonation flight.

'''2. All engines were operating normally (as reported twice by co-pilot to Capt. Chun after missile detonation).'''

:5. KAL 007 was able to regain its pre-hit altitude almost exactly. (It is highly unlikely that KAL 007 regained exact altitude after its arc by chance.)  

 

:6. KAL 007 was able to regain its pre-missile hit rate of forward acceleration.  

'''3. Electrical system was operative (otherwise the radio and engines would not have operate'''d).  

:7. Captain Chun was able to bring KAL 007’s nose (pitch) to the plane’s exact level of flight.  

 

:8. For over 4 minutes (18:31 - 18:35), KAL 007 maintained level flight altitude of 5,000 meters only to begin a spiral descent over tiny Moneron Island, 3 1/2 miles E-W by 4 1/2 miles N-S - the only land mass in the whole Tatar straits.

'''4. Demonstrated pilot ability to decrease speed of KAL 007 in its downward phase (If he would not have been able to do so, the aircraft would continue to increase its downward acceleration—only to collide with the water in from 2 to 2 1/2 minutes rather than maintain its over 12 minute post-detonation flight.'''

:9. Material evidence that passengers had enough time to prepare for emergency water ditching [http://www.rescue007.org/faq.htm#12]

 

'''5. KAL 007 was able to regain its pre-hit altitude almost exactly. (It is highly unlikely that KAL 007 regained exact altitude after its arc by chance.)'''

 

'''6. KAL 007 was able to regain its pre-missile hit rate of forward acceleration'''.  

 

'''7. Captain Chun was able to bring KAL 007’s nose (pitch) to the plane’s exact level of flight.'''

 

'''8. For over 4 minutes (18:31 - 18:35), KAL 007 maintained level flight altitude of 5,000 meters only to begin a spiral descent over tiny Moneron Island, 3 1/2 miles E-W by 4 1/2 miles N-S - the only land mass in the whole Tatar straits.'''

 

'''9. Material evidence that passengers had enough time to prepare for emergency water ditching [http://www.rescue007.org/faq.htm#12]'''

==Soviet Harassment of US Search and Rescue Efforts==

==Soviet Harassment of US Search and Rescue Efforts==