For those of you, who follow the mechanical turk search, i have a bit of an update.
“The aircraft was last seen on NAS Fallon radar ~5 miles east of Hawthorne Army Depot, (38 30N, 118 30W) proceeding northbound, descending slowly (controlled) through 7000’ msl at 10:05 AM local time. This location is less than 30 miles ESE from the point of departure/arrival. Estimated time of return to the ranch was 11:00 AM. The predicted aircraft performance and climb rate must be adjusted down for the density altitude of this area in summer. Because it was a tube and fabric aircraft, it is very likely that the wreckage will look like a pile of sticks and paper. Satellite images of intact aircraft are usually in flight and not wreckage.
Steve was on a local pleasure flight and not surveying run sites for the LSR. The extreme terrain and high density altitude require turbine helicopters for close in search. Fixed wing and piston aircraft have proven to be unable to follow the terrain in the present conditions.
The majority of the search effort is concentrated in this area with Army and Air National Guard aircraft supplemented by volunteers and chartered helicopters manned by trained SAR operators and observers. The main search is being directed by National Guard SAR and C-SAR personnel with direct input from Steve’s staff pilot on his habits and intentions.
Eric Ahlstrom
Program Manager, ALSR
775-302-6762 cell
[email]eahlstrom@pyramid.net[/email] “
This would put the aircraft well outside the google search area and thus make the mechanical turk irrelevant.
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