Pentagon/2006-0903
Here are some pictures, taken on September 3, 2006, from the bike/jogging path along Washington Boulevard, which passes by the Pentagon.
(#1) Coming up Washington Boulevard from Arlington National Cemetery, towards Pentagon City.
(#2) View looking out towards the Citgo gas station, the Navy Annex, Sheraton Hotel, and Columbia Pike.
(#3) Another view looking out towards Citgo, while standing more directly in front of the spot where Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.
(#4) View of Washington Boulevard (and lamp posts) from the same spot.
(#5) Slightly further down the bike path, looking at more lamp posts.
Map of Pentagon/Columbia Pike area. The two black diamonds at the Citgo represent two cameras they have pointed roughly (but not exactly) in the direction of the Pentagon. Citgo has upgraded their cameras since 2001, though the angles would still be the same. With the angle that the gas station is situated, their security cameras on 9/11 were probably pointed too far to the west and not in position to capture anything. The slow frames per second rate of such cameras and recording systems (meant to capture robbery suspects and drive-off gas thieves) is another likely reason why the Citgo security footage didn't capture anything.
Same area, but showing topography (DEM). The lighter/white areas on the left show Arlington Ridge which sweeps across from behind Pentagon City (up Arlington Ridge Road), across Columbia Pike, and portions of Arlington National Cemetery. The terrain beneath the estimated flight path takes the aircraft slopes down, with Washington Boulevard situated 10+ feet higher than the Pentagon.
Image:ArlingtonGISmap1query.jpg Screen capture from Arlington County interactive mapping/GIS application.
[2], with annotations added by myself.
This shows a query of the contour lines, where the star is located. The elevation where the highway lamp posts are is 52 feet, while the elevation where the Pentagon is is ~35 feet. This is a ~17 feet difference, with the rather tall lamp posts sticking out of the ground so many feet higher than that.
Figure 3.16 from Pentagon Building Performance Study report
Figure 6.1 from Pentagon Building Performance Study report, showing that Flight 77 hit low to the ground, mainly damaging the 1st-3rd floors before the upper floors collapsed.
