Sonar Target

[Greg Daspit]

I may be wrong but I think the catchment areas may have moderate half hills, (Google"Talus Cones"), on them that slope south and north as well as the main west slope. They could be made up of rock piles from landslides and erosion over thousands of years. If you look at above water cliffs and canyons, you may see steep cliffs and at the bottom there are moderate sloped rocky piles (Talus cones). Plane parts could have run down the south slope of one of those rocky cones. See reply 58 for the debris trail3 pdf attached that shows what I am thinking. If you look at some of the sonar images where it fades to black at the cliff face you may be able to see hints of these moderate cones.
I think it is possible that a large section tumbled over the second cliff and when it hit the base it followed the slope of one of these rocky talus cones SW. This could have taken a long time, peeling skin and parts off on the jagged surface as in rolled down. See attachment and link

[Tim Mellon]

Greg, I think you are correct. I have pointed out in previous threads that the Balderston Debris Field is situated in the swale, or valley, between a ridge to the North and another to the South.

This feature was also apparent to us as the ROV maneuvered in real time on a course parallel to the shoreline.

[Chris Johnson]

I may be wrong but I think the catchment areas may have moderate half hills, (Google"Talus Cones"), on them that slope south and north as well as the main west slope. They could be made up of rock piles from landslides and erosion over thousands of years. If you look at above water cliffs and canyons, you may see steep cliffs and at the bottom there are moderate sloped rocky piles (Talus cones). Plane parts could have run down the south slope of one of those rocky cones. See reply 58 for the debris trail3 pdf attached that shows what I am thinking. If you look at some of the sonar images where it fades to black at the cliff face you may be able to see hints of these moderate cones.
I think it is possible that a large section tumbled over the second cliff and when it hit the base it followed the slope of one of these rocky talus cones SW. This could have taken a long time, peeling skin and parts off on the jagged surface as in rolled down. See attachment and link

Slightly off topic! But that kind of feature may be why they have been unable to locate the body of Andrew Irvine on Everest when they are sure they know of his body's location.  The theory being that searchers go up the slope in the natural gullies formed by the Tallus whereas his body if on the 'ridge' between the gullies (his route coming down from near the summit)  Will look out for the link later 

[Patrick Dickson]

I just can't envision a scenario that would create that debris pattern.

We have to remember that the airframe has quite a bit of cable, wiring, conduit, piping, etc. routed
along it's length that will tend to hold it all together as the environmental forces try to disassemble it.

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Slightly off topic! But that kind of feature may be why they have been unable to locate the body of Andrew Irvine on Everest when they are sure they know of his body's location.  The theory being that searchers go up the slope in the natural gullies formed by the Tallus whereas his body if on the 'ridge' between the gullies (his route coming down from near the summit)  Will look out for the link later

Cf. "The Search for Andrew Irvine."

[Chris Johnson]

Slightly off topic! But that kind of feature may be why they have been unable to locate the body of Andrew Irvine on Everest when they are sure they know of his body's location.  The theory being that searchers go up the slope in the natural gullies formed by the Tallus whereas his body if on the 'ridge' between the gullies (his route coming down from near the summit)  Will look out for the link later

Cf. "The Search for Andrew Irvine."

Beaten to it :( Thanks Marty :)

[Don Dollinger]

Nice write-up in Fox News.  Even Richie got named in the article...Enjoy http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/05/29/amelia-earhart-plane-found-sonar-images-may-have-pinpointed-wreck/?intcmp=features

LTM,

Don

[Chris Johnson]

Nice write-up in Fox News.  Even Richie got named in the article...Enjoy http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/05/29/amelia-earhart-plane-found-sonar-images-may-have-pinpointed-wreck/?intcmp=features

LTM,

Don

Bet only his Nan calls him Richard ;)

[Greg Daspit]

See pdf for the hints I see of the slopes at the base of the cliff.

[Chris Johnson]

Greg,

I see something that looks like Tallus but if you look at the first picture in post one you can see a whole lot of them which makes me wounder if its more to do with the action of the capture device?

[James G. Stoveken]

Nice job Greg!  Very helpful to visualize the scene.  Thanks!

[Ted G Campbell]

Ric,
Does the "Sonar Target" come to you as a "vidio" if so can you post it?
Ted Campbell

[richie conroy]

Hi All

Am currently on holiday in benidorm back sat look forward to reading up on latest developments an Ric love the research bullitin  :)

Thanks Richie

[Adam Marsland]

Way to go, Richie!  Front page on my AOL feed this morning. 

Assuming this is the fuselage, might it be worth looking around other photos for the wings?  The "T" shape Richie pointed out at the beginning of the thread might be a good candidate.  If you could find a corresponding shape on the other side somewhere, that would be even more suggestive...just a thought, and probably not an original one.

[Greg Daspit]

With all the new visitors to the site based on the media coverage of the sonar image (the topic of this thread), perhaps discussion of the Explorers club photo and legal issues on using it should have its own thread.