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Old 21st Jun 2009, 22:59
  #2096 (permalink)  
SaturnV
 
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The Brazilian Air Force's site has this plot for retrieval of wreckage on June 3. The Brazilian AF charts for search and recovery effort begin with two maps for early wreckage recovery, one is undated. (The undated chart has wreckage recovery 160 km WNW of Sao Pedro and Sao Paulo.) Both maps look to be overlays on aeronautical charts.

See very large image here:
http://www.fab.mil.br/portal/voo447/...a_voo447_2.jpg

However, it seems likely that that the 'wreckage' retrieved on June 3 was ultimately identified as not coming from AF447.

On June 6, the first wreckage definitively identified as coming from AF447 was located at 03.34.08' N and 030.27.30' W. It is a seat cushion (poltrona) with a serial number. A male corpse is also recovered (apparently from the same area as the seat cushion). The position is WNW of the last reported position. Another male body is recovered later in the day from this area.

See Powerpoint slides at:
http://www.fab.mil.br/portal/voo447/...a_06_06_09.ppt

The Brazilian Air Force site also has a plot for the recovery of the 50th body showing location from where 19 bodies were recovered. On June 20th, ENE of the 50th body, and NNE of Tasil, there was recovery of "Despojo". (Despojo means spoils, might it mean body psrts?)

For plots of the early search and rescue patterns, and weather in the general area from June 6 onward, and for various charts including those cited above, see:
FORÇA AÉREA BRASILEIRA - Asas de um povo soberano

Thanks to takata for finding the link.
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Edited to add this image of a section of a Brazilian Air Force Powerpoint slide indicating where 'wreckage' was located on June 2. I think none of this wreckage was ultimately identified as being from AF447. But it does show what was located in an area takata thinks the plane might have crashed if a 180 turn toward Sao Pedro and Sao Paulo was attempted.


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Second edit to add the search grids by date. They were looking mostly to the east of the track.

June 1 search grids:


June 2 search grids


June 3 search grids


June 4 search grids


June 5 search grids


June 6 search grid, showing grid that first located definite AF447 wreckage and bodies.


The early, unproductive searches to the east of the track suggest that AF447 did not turn east and south toward Sao Pedro and Sao Paulo. Unknown why there was no early searching west of the track or northwest of the last reported position. I don't believe the green circle in the June 4 and June 5 maps is a search grid. And the grids for June 2 -- June 5 look to be cumulative, not repetitive.

Last edited by SaturnV; 21st Jun 2009 at 23:55. Reason: provide link to large photo add more images
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