And the difference between GPS Altitude and Baro Altitude is a red herring anyway, because what we mostly care about here are the altitude changes, not the absolute altitude value be it GPS or Baro.

Which is why the experiment RYFQB did (see chart a few pages back) was neat because it showed that altitude changes computed based on the FR24 GPS vertical speed matched very closely with the recorded pressure altitude changes.

So even though the FR24 pressure altitudes are unreliable past a certain point, we can reconstruct corrected altitudes with some confidence by using the computed GPS data (which obviously is not affected by pressure data errors).

More than 900 posts on this thread, and I have read and tried to understand every one of them.

I would like to nominate Kulverstukas as the singular contributor who has made the most sense of this terrible affair.

For Double Back:

A similar accident - Lockheed Lodestar runaway trim in cruise, resulting negative G load failed the wing spar. The NTSB report is around somewhere, but here's a summary: ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed 18-56-24 Lodestar N1000F Lake Milton, OH

A similar accident?

The wing fell off.

first drone footage
 

on possible culture clashes
 

Former FAA official: 'Clash of cultures' in crash probe - BBC News

I find it a bit early to talk about culture clashes. Just like in the investigations themselves, let's get as many facts as possible first.

A number of actions of the Egyptians can only be applauded. We have not seen any images of victims. And passenger luggage has been collected and guarded. Quite a difference from MH17 for instance. Next to that you can only have respect for the (especially the first) people on the ground being confronted with it all. From the ordinary soldier to the investigators and supporting teams.

drone use2 and search expansion
 

Sinai crash: Russia extends search area and uses drones - BBC News

Isn't this the first recorded (flying) drone use during the investigation of a large commercial airliner accident?

A0283 with all my respect for your contribution, first link is cut version of LifeNews video from Nov, 2th and second one is another example of "only we western people newer lie and are God sent angels at the Earth".

To all other participants - can we concentrate on technical part of investigation and stop speculate about evil Putin's slaves and mendacious Egyptians? There is whole Jet Blast forum for it.

Nope, a Bluefin-21 was deployed in the search for MH370 last year.

The part that is bent upwards is the soft part of the pylon ahead of the wing. The beefy structure is way behind it.

probably this bent when the engine hit tailpipe first at an impact angle. Anything going on with rotating fan loading reacts out in the bearing supports and not the pylon. (no math was used :E)

Shorn HS
 

I find it odd that the discovery of the HS pieces (I still haven't seen pics of both) has been met with quick general prune agreement that they failed in direct shear due to aerodynamic forces from tumbling at speed....while at the same time no one disputes a nose down rotation, negative G tuck by the fuselage minus tail at the very same airspeed, where the wings very apparently did NOT fold up....AND that forces on the wings were sufficient to strip of both engines off the wings. Why did the wings remain intact spanwise?

Also, if the HS pieces failed cleanly in shear, does that mean the center HS box section remained in place? Pics of that assembly would be nice.

@Leightman on HS and ...
 

Leightman uptill now I have not seen pictures with the other half or the central box structure of the THS. Rudder still missing too. So of course too early to have any clear conclusions ... just a longlist of preliminary possible scenario's ...

Perhaps the rudder, and especially where it is found, will turn out to be more important in the end. So hope it is found by the ongoing search and hi res pictures published.

Wing in one part is indeed striking. Perhaps not the center wing box and large inner parts of the winghalves staying together, but not losing substantial parts of the outer winghalves. Maybe part of the reason is that the engines came clean off before a structural limit on the wings was exceeded. You also wonder, that if the plane rotated, that it rotated in a manner and at a rate which generated relatively low dynamic loads. While (not a judgement at all, just trying to indicate different interests) 'flying only' pilots (not engineering pilots) often state that discussion on issues like these are not 'for them', it is challenging from an engineering point of view.

Important for elimination of scenario's is where and when the rudder, THS and engines broke off, and in what order. So the more we have on these items the better.

Doesn't looks so

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/...6486470370.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/...6565911853.jpg

In what I'm aware of, all major parts of plane was found, so I think that VS and HS parts are not missing, we just doesn't have photos of them.

Kulverstukas, is your photo of the FDR or the CVR?

Is this a picture of the other recorder?

@Kulver - definition of missing
 

For me "missing" = "evidence (validated pictures or validated statements) not available in the public domain".

We are not in a position to have any idea what the searchers and investigators have found.

A "validated picture"= Picture that helps to identify a part with more than say 90% certainty. Which means you generally need good ones, more than one, and preferably context and geographic position.

Example is the APU itself. A number of posters expect that it is in the tailcone. But I have not seen a picture of the inside of the cone and no picture of the APU unit. So, APU not validated. Same with the nose landinggear.

A "validated statement" = official statement by more than one investigation party or official spokes person supported by as much as possible pilot, engineering, manufacturing and operations information and experience.

For the last day, some of the reports coming out near the investigation appear to be from La La land.
I certainly hope that the "fix" is not in and that we will hear an objective and logical analysis of the accident that will encompass all the observed data. :suspect:

AirScotia it's clearly reads "solid state cockpit voice recorder". And at your photo it's definitely other recorder, as it has completely different layout.

Awww, I get it. Agreed, its more challenging for armchair detectives to make right conclusion before official team and with limited access to evidence. But not impossible, At least RedWings rwy excursion case was solved in forums long before even preliminary official report was published.