Originally Posted by
matblack
What would be the effect on a modern airliner such as the A330 if it experienced a high speed stall at high altitude? ....
.....Unfounded speculation of course but if the A330 was operating at 41,000 ft with significant load and optimum cruising speed and then encountered unexpected severe turbulence could this cause such a stall and could the damage to the aeroplane be severe enough to cause a break up?
Short answer.... No
Heavy aircraft can experience a stall or "Mach Buffet" (stalling of the wing due to supersonic flow) at much lower altitudes than 41,000.
AF447 could have experienced some form low speed stall, Mach Buffet stall, or "Jet Upset" due to turbulence, but a proper recovery would not put the aircraft in an over-stress situation.
It is generally a poor recovery technique that causes the loss of an aircraft in these situations.