Reply #29: I'd like to know too. And BTW, I am actually an aeronautical engineer and

[mike1963]

a commercial pilot for some 37 years. Boeing 7x7 airplanes are certified in what's called "normal category" with fairly narrow limits on positive and negative G forces...it really doesn't take much effort to break off parts of empennage or engines if one isn't careful or competent. I don't really have much of an opinion one way or the other about the possibility of 93 being "shot down" but I know of MANY inflight breakups of aircraft caused by grossly exceeding the maneuvering speeds they're certified for. Big ones and little ones too.