Topic: Flight 447

Adam Curry analyzes the official report on Air France Flight 447, questioning why the co-pilot pulled back on the stick during a stall, which contradicts standard pilot training. The discussion touches on potential software flaws in Airbus aircraft and the "fly-by-wire" systems.

Russian Air Force commanders have reportedly issued warnings about geomagnetic storms emanating from the African tectonic plate. These storms, potentially caused by the piezoelectric effect during tectonic shifts, are being linked to the recent losses of Air France Flight 447 and a Yemenia aircraft. Such electromagnetic anomalies could severely disrupt fly-by-wire systems in modern computerized aircraft.

Adam Curry discusses recent Airbus crashes, including the Yemen crash and Air France Flight 447, under the theme of "airliner wars." He highlights a report from the sole survivor of the Yemen crash, Bahia Bakari, who claimed to feel an "electric shock" before the plane went down. Curry posits that electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons or other forms of electronic interference might be responsible for these aviation disasters.

Two passengers on the missing Air France Flight 447, Pablo Dreyfus and Ronald Dreyer, were prominent consultants involved in tracking the international illegal arms trade. Dreyfus worked with Brazilian authorities to stop weapons flow to drug gangs in Rio de Janeiro. The aircraft's tail has been located, and search teams are looking for the flight data recorders before the pingers expire.

The hosts discuss the potential official recognition of "Asperitus" clouds, which would be the first new cloud classification in 50 years. They examine photos from the Daily Mail and debate whether the formations are related to climate change or Photoshop. The segment includes anecdotes about seeing funnel clouds while flying near Chicago and Cannes.

The disappearance of Air France Flight 447 over the Atlantic Ocean prompts a discussion on aviation safety and weather hazards. Adam Curry dismisses lightning strikes as a likely cause of a total crash, noting that while the flight path contained severe storm systems up to 45,000 feet, aircraft are designed with significant redundancies. The conversation touches on the rivalry between Airbus fly-by-wire systems and Boeing's traditional mechanical controls.

Investigators are examining a bomb threat made against an Air France flight from Buenos Aires to Paris just days before Flight 447 disappeared. While no group has claimed credit, the hosts discuss the possibility of terrorism versus mechanical failure. The segment also references a recent speech by Osama bin Laden and the history of media attribution in terror events.