The CSIRO ‘rubber ducky’ experiment is rightly criticised by the IG. Don’t know how many ‘Typhoons’ they get in the test area, but I’d bet my socks it is not so many as the SIO gets. Now, not being a ‘drift model’ specialist, but having slightly more than a nodding acquaintance with the wind, oceans and aerodynamics I have to wonder why the effect of the hurricanes which rip through the SIO has not been at least acknowledged.
"This report focusses on field testing of a genuine Boeing 777 flaperon. This testing confirmed predictions by Pengam (2016) that the flaperon's motion with respect to the water is about 20 degrees left of the wind."
Winds between 60 and 80 knots do unbelievable things to the surface of the ocean, the dynamics within the ‘quadrants’ are variable; much depends on which part of the storm anything ‘floating’ is in. No mention of this from CSIRO. Down in the trough of a 10 meter wave the wind vector and velocity is a different animal to the forces at the crest; and ‘loose’ objects are affected by forces external to the prevailing current; and they can ‘surf’ anyone who sails can tell this.
It is no wonder IG are critical of CSIRO and ATSB; this latest smacks of arse covering. “Oh, well, we did refine our data and, had we been allowed to continue we would have found 370”. All bollocks of course, typical of the mind set prevailing in the offset the blame game Australian government departments play – at great expense, not to mention embarrassment to the country paying for it.
Toot toot.
P2 edit - Reference pg 10 Godfrey review paper:
![[Image: Godfrey-pg-10.jpg]](http://auntypru.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Godfrey-pg-10.jpg)
"This report focusses on field testing of a genuine Boeing 777 flaperon. This testing confirmed predictions by Pengam (2016) that the flaperon's motion with respect to the water is about 20 degrees left of the wind."
Winds between 60 and 80 knots do unbelievable things to the surface of the ocean, the dynamics within the ‘quadrants’ are variable; much depends on which part of the storm anything ‘floating’ is in. No mention of this from CSIRO. Down in the trough of a 10 meter wave the wind vector and velocity is a different animal to the forces at the crest; and ‘loose’ objects are affected by forces external to the prevailing current; and they can ‘surf’ anyone who sails can tell this.
It is no wonder IG are critical of CSIRO and ATSB; this latest smacks of arse covering. “Oh, well, we did refine our data and, had we been allowed to continue we would have found 370”. All bollocks of course, typical of the mind set prevailing in the offset the blame game Australian government departments play – at great expense, not to mention embarrassment to the country paying for it.
Toot toot.
P2 edit - Reference pg 10 Godfrey review paper: