Ed Heinemann was the Rodin of Naval Aero Engineering.

But just to be pedantic, I do prefer the X-F5D

[ATTACH=CONFIG]236467[/ATTACH]

And speaking about Douglas and Rocket Red Glare:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]236468[/ATTACH]

Obama Removes Weapons Freeze Against Egypt

[Policy] move will release 12 F-16 fighter jets, 20 Harpoon missiles and up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tanks that Egypt had previously paid for but have been held up since 2013.

Mr. Obama assured President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt that he would support the full $1.3 billion in annual military assistance the Cairo government traditionally receives

Source;
The New York Times

New on-board cell-phone video surfaces

Paris Match and Bild obtained a video taken during the final seconds of the fated Germanwings flight 4U9525 and found among the wreckage by a source close to the investigation. Its origin – a cell phone – was clear. The scene was so chaotic that it was hard to identify people, but the sounds of the screaming passengers made it perfectly clear that they were aware of what was about to happen to them. One can hear cries of “My God” in several languages. Metallic banging can also be heard more than three times, perhaps of the pilot trying to open the cockpit door with a heavy object. Towards the end, after a heavy shake, stronger than the others, the screaming intensifies. Then nothing.

Also:
Lufthansa was made aware of the copilot Depression in 2009

Lufthansa, meanwhile, announced that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz told told his Lufthansa flight training school in 2009 that he had a “previous episode of severe depression.”

Watch it On CNN

Loud Bang 1 min before crash might bring new light to the two shepherds testimony

What we know from Bild & ParisMatch

10:40

A violent sound can be heard outside. At the same time, inside, screaming. The Airbus hits the mountain with its right wing.

No other sound, save for the alarms and the screaming passengers.

10:41

The airplane hits the Estrop mountain range at 5000 feet (1500 meters) at 800 km/h.

And the witnesses account that appeared in the local press the day of the incident on FranceTVInfo website:

We were between 11 am and noon, at the foot of the mountain Tromas, when we saw an airliner that had just got around the mountain on the right. It was flying low, and its trajectory was curious. But we were at 1300 meters, with a large mountain that rises up to 2500 meters in front, we did not realize it was flying so low. And, its trajectory, we thought he was flying from Nice rather than Marseille.

At the same time, we saw a fighter plane that seemed to make a move to avoid it. From so far away, it was even as they would collide. It was certainly looking for him, and must have had already spot it. We often have military planes flying around for exercice. They make a lot of noise. Moreover, they frighten our cattel. So, we did not hear the explosion when the plane crashed, but we realized afterwards that they had probably been the last to see this airplane.

Tromas is 2 500 meters high and behind the Three Dioceses top off at 2900 meters. The the plane might have seek for a way out, a way out. But this is a dead-end. The aircraft then went crashing down the side of the neck Mariaud, probably on the cliffs of the massif of Three Dioceses. The fighter has certainly seen what happened. We realized after he had to be sent [on the scene]. “

According to them it seemed as if the plane was in a ctrld flight, flying low in the valley and a fighter jet (other sources stated a Mirage 2K) was monitoring or searching for it and nearly collided.

Also @Fah619

Last leaked document confirms Copilot was breathing through the on-board Oxygen Mask

Despite the deafening noises, Lubitz’s breathing can cleary be heard through an oxygen mask he put on. He is breathing normally. The plane is at 13000 feet (4000 meters).

Also:
Cockpit door locked via “LOCK” mode (hence no buzzer sound)

Lubitz is alone in the cockpit. He locks the armored door with the “Lock” button

(Extracted from the transcript of the voice recorder on ParisMatch/Bild)

Sources:
ParisMatch (link in English)
CNN.COM
KeyPub Post#9
http://www.francetvinfo.fr/

You shld consider that 22 & 35 have also variable inlet Geo. It’s simply that they have no mechanically activated ramp.

Hi Fah619,

The usage of the Oxygen mask is an interesting hypothesis that could concur with others fact and hypo.

If we consider that he was taking some drugs like anxiolytics or Betablockers to manage his anxiety, he might have resorted to pure oxygen to counter a feel of dizziness right after the Pilot exited the cockpit. Drug to manage a glaucoma are known to have side effect with alt. And we know that he was consulting for severe vision problem that could potentially put him out of Flying.

Beta blockers reduce the maximum pulse rate and therefore maximal workload, can cause lethargy

We know from the prosecutor that the conversation was slowing down and that he appeared very calm prior to be left alone in the cockpit.

Anyhow, it would be amazing to see the medical “experts” world to jump into the case and stop the wild speculations (this includes the above). There is a medical branch dedicated to flight at high altitude. I am sure that this will do for plenty interviews and captivating “on-air” time.

Regarding the FDR, I do agree that something goes wrong. But please, keep in mind that communication is not sciences and spokes men/women are rarely mechanical engineer. It’s rather plausible that someone has briefed the media misunderstanding the Voice data recorder for the Flight data recorder.

In the case of Mr Hollande, It’s unacceptable from a president that made the deliberate choice to interfere in an ongoing inquiry, but the ring of aeronautical experts around the French president have already prove itself to be of dubious* quality (see the “first world electrical plane” saga story as a reference).

We also now that the Copilot consulted a lot always emphasing on serious problem (eyesight, depression):

Lubitz told the neuropsychologist that he was too stressed with work, the European government official briefed on the investigation said.

The official said he was not aware of any suicidal tendencies reported by Lubitz to the doctors,

He might just have been collecting prescription to get access to drug that could enhance his performance and help him to deal with a situation that have outpaced him in the past.

Source:
Drug use and Misuse in Mountaineering 2014

*to speak galantly