http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/06/abdulmutallab.pdf

Feds mention TATP in the PETN mix. So the bomb had a three
part chain: sugar + chlorate (sulphuric initiator) sets
off TATP which sets off the bulk PETN. PETN is more
energetic but TATP more easily undergoes the deflagration
to detonation reaction. Various posters have described
such 'trains'.

A small unconfined pile of TATP may just fireball when heated. Or it may detonate.

Its supposedly easily set off but in my experience that is over
hyped. Its obviously not a military explosive (can take
rifle bullets, etc) but its not nitrogen triiodide either.

Anyway, TATP is a good idea, and even a lame sugar chlorate fire would have definately set it off. Not sure why it didn't DDT and
set off the main PETN charge. 3 oz is borderline perhaps.

NB: TATP would dilute the PETN if mixed homogenously; the former
has none of those tattletale nitrate groups that various detectors
like. Woof. (And again, untagged PETN has very low vapor
pressure, and condoms can be tied effectively.)

NB: condoms are supremely QA'd, each is electrically tested.
They have enormous engineering margins: I've inflated them
to 2 feet by 6 inches diam, at least, when I needed a helium
balloon. Ironically, the IRA used them in timer devices,
but worried about them because the IRA was catholic and
condoms were verboten. Again the QA aspect would have been
useful.

Aside from the technically interesting improvised chemistry, the point is that its a losing game, its too cheap for the adversary
to launch attacks. And even partially-failed attacks have
great value to them.

...

I wonder if Detroit had worked, would flight corridors be
shifted to avoid overflying more areas that the precious DC
restricted areas? How much would that cost due to extra fuel?

...

Glass empires shouldn't fly drones.

Point your butt away from the prince.

They're in yur bases detonating your spooks.

>>Meanwhile, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday that a man tried to board a commercial airliner in the Somali capital of Mogadishu last month carrying powdered chemicals, liquid and a syringe in a case bearing chilling similarities to the Detroit airliner plot.

The Somali man - whose name has not yet been released - was arrested by African Union peacekeeping troops before the Nov. 13 Daallo Airlines flight took off. It had been scheduled to travel from Mogadishu to the northern Somali city of Hargeisa, then to Djibouti and Dubai. A Somali police spokesman, Abdulahi Hassan Barise, said the suspect is in Somali custody.<<

Gee, you think "intel" would be expecting the pantsbomber..

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AIRLINER_ATTACK?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

>>"If you want to detonate it, you have to do that another way than he did. That is why we talk about amateurism," Ter Horst said.<<

Actually its the US that is amateurish... the bomber only needed to practice more.

Blog label seeding. See other posts.