Transcript of Hearing 12/12/97 - TWA Flight 800 Investigation

1309123on the environment of the 747 center wing tank and thesurrounding components that might transfer heat to thistank?4WITNESS THOMAS:I would say we have a very5good understanding of this at this point.67DR. ELLINGSTAD:WITNESS THOMAS:You say that we do?I quite believe we do.891011DR. ELLINGSTAD: So, you don’t believe thatthere are any additional flight tests, or on groundtests that would be useful to develop a betterunderstanding?12WITNESS THOMAS:I think at this point we1314have, as I said earlier, two computer models, one ofwhich is, quote/unquote, “a simple model” that allows15us to look at alternatives.We have a more161718192021sophisticated model that is a closer representation ofthe 747.As we try and develop alternative ideas suchas some kind of cooling system, we think we may findthat there is a part of the system where we need moredetailed information where we would have to go run that2223test,whether it is a ground test or a flight test.DR. ELLINGSTAD: Because, as that ––2425WITNESS THOMAS:development process.Part of that is just theCAPITAL HILL REPORTING, INC.(202) 466-9500