Hope someone can answer this question from a PPL with a "big aeroplanes" question (just to satisfy personal curiosity, that's all):
Earlier this week I flew transatlantic (Carribean -> UK) on 744 with a well-known UK airline.
Mid-Atlantic (just SW of the Azores, according to Skymap), we encountered what I would describe as moderate turbulence (I'm guessing associated with a jetstream) - there were some fairly sharp vertical oscillations (causing CC to make for their seats pretty sharpish :o )) and some lateral jolts aswell. Some pax around me were visibly unnerved by it, although my kids slept right through it
.
What I noticed on Skymap is that our Groundspeed reduced significantly (580mph down to 480mph), only creeping slowly up again after we were back in smooth air.
I'm thinking that the speed reduction was due to turbulence penetration. Just wondered what the limits are, as I would imagine the 744 needs to still move pretty fast at this alt. (FL360)??