BCR
Master Poster
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2008
- Messages
- 2,278
I have been working with the NTSB data releases for American Airlines Flight 77 since mid-2006. By early 2007, I had developed a hypothesis that a Read-Out2 (RO2) of the raw flight data recorder file done by Undertow of the Pilots for 911 Truth was the best representation of the flight path; however the data stream had stopped 6-8 seconds prior to impact. The 84 RADES data supported that hypothesis, but with recent releases of the FAA radar data, that hypothesis has been confirmed.
I developed an Excel model in 2007 based on the data available at the time to align the available data sets (RADES, CSV, RO2). Data was aligned by the altitude values in the CSV and RO2 files, and by the MC values in the 84 RADES data from the first segment of the flight. There are distinct time differences in the various data sets (including FAA data) which I am awaiting the TRACON data from the NYC area to determine a little more precisely. At this point, the 84 RADES data is ~23 seconds slower than the broadcast time for the second WTC event.
For this model, I estimated the DME values (distance from VOR's) based on the RO2 positional data, and compared it with the values recorded in the RO2.
As can be seen, the value trends agree with one another for the entire flight path segment. With the release of the FAA radar data, data for an additional ARSR site (QRE) located near Bedford, Virginia was located, and ASR sites at IAD, DCA, ADW and BWI. This additional radar data is summarized in the images below. The kmz file used for the images is available for download and import into Google Earth.
An Excel workbook with the FAA primary data can be downloaded here. The raw data files can be located at AAL77.COM.
The final segment of flight terminated at the Pentagon as evidenced by the radar data, written IAD ATC statements, NEADS audio and all available ATC audio records. There is continuous radar data available for the entire RO2 flight path.
I will be completing a written project report to cover methodology and findings, however this will take several months to complete. In the meantime, I will be happy to answer any questions regarding the verified flight path.
Note:
The ASR data is in text format and the azimuth values are in whole degrees. When converting from polar (azimuth and range) to spherical (latitude and longitude) coordinates, this generates an error range which at 54 nautical miles range equals around 0.94 nautical miles. The plots for these in GE show up as slanted linear swaths at extreme distances, but at closer range (> 10 nautical miles) the error appears to be less than the inherent system error.
I developed an Excel model in 2007 based on the data available at the time to align the available data sets (RADES, CSV, RO2). Data was aligned by the altitude values in the CSV and RO2 files, and by the MC values in the 84 RADES data from the first segment of the flight. There are distinct time differences in the various data sets (including FAA data) which I am awaiting the TRACON data from the NYC area to determine a little more precisely. At this point, the 84 RADES data is ~23 seconds slower than the broadcast time for the second WTC event.
For this model, I estimated the DME values (distance from VOR's) based on the RO2 positional data, and compared it with the values recorded in the RO2.
As can be seen, the value trends agree with one another for the entire flight path segment. With the release of the FAA radar data, data for an additional ARSR site (QRE) located near Bedford, Virginia was located, and ASR sites at IAD, DCA, ADW and BWI. This additional radar data is summarized in the images below. The kmz file used for the images is available for download and import into Google Earth.
An Excel workbook with the FAA primary data can be downloaded here. The raw data files can be located at AAL77.COM.
The final segment of flight terminated at the Pentagon as evidenced by the radar data, written IAD ATC statements, NEADS audio and all available ATC audio records. There is continuous radar data available for the entire RO2 flight path.
I will be completing a written project report to cover methodology and findings, however this will take several months to complete. In the meantime, I will be happy to answer any questions regarding the verified flight path.
Note:
The ASR data is in text format and the azimuth values are in whole degrees. When converting from polar (azimuth and range) to spherical (latitude and longitude) coordinates, this generates an error range which at 54 nautical miles range equals around 0.94 nautical miles. The plots for these in GE show up as slanted linear swaths at extreme distances, but at closer range (> 10 nautical miles) the error appears to be less than the inherent system error.
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