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Old 6th Jun 2009, 18:07
  #348 (permalink)  
rer47
 
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Earlier mm43 calculated aircraft speeds and positions based on an assumed speed at INTOL of 540kts.
The references I have seen give the speed at INTOL as 453kt (see reference 15 in the Wikipedia article).
Assuming this ground speed, the results change considerably:

INTOL 0133Z
453kts
EPODE 0157Z
453kts
ORARO 0205Z
576kts
FINAL 0214Z

Assuming FL350 and an OAT of -43C (from Vasquez (ref 25), but ignoring his estimated 10kt headwind), 453kts corresponds approximately to M 0.78, evidently the recommended speed for turbulence. 576kts corresponds to M 0.98, which is impossible. Therefore they must have increased speed long before ORARO. This would be consistent with overspeed and destruction of the aircraft due to turbulence.

As reported by others, two bodies have been reported found about 900 km (revised to 800 km - BBC) NE of Fernando de Norohna (refs 53, 54). The final ACARS location is 858 km NE of that island.

rer47

addendum: A Brazillian news paper reports "470 miles - about 900 km from Fernando de Norohna" and "69 km from the final location communicated". This would be nm, and the last location would be the 0214Z message (FINAL).

Aeronáutica confirma descoberta de destroços e corpos - Estadao.com.br
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