B737. Can it go supersonic in steep dive?
Rumours and News contains info on the Silk Air B737 crash court case. Radar indications seem to indicate that the rate of descent was phenomenal from an initial 32,000 fpm from 35,000 to 19500 and a very likely much faster rate of descent (in region of 50,000 fpm) until impact. The stab trim was found at 2.5 units (full electrical fwd), the evidence revealed engines at high power and speed brakes retracted. The FDR circuit breakers appear to have been deliberately pulled one minute prior to push over with the last reading being normal stab trim cruise setting of 4.6 units. Thus the dive was with full forward stick, full fwd stab trim, and high power.
Can anyone advise me under those conditions, would it be possible for the aircraft to have reached or exceeded the speed of sound during the dive, and how can this be proved?