Would the A330 crew be demonstrating the famed "alpha max" , though above tree top height this time ?
Exactly - especially if this was, as mentioned, just before introduction into service.
A big plane will always appear to be travelling slower for a given true speed. First time I lived in a city large enough to see 747s regularly on the approach paths, my impression was they were flying at "dirigible" speeds. Later, of course, I knew better....
