Strange Radar Returns (I've got a picture too!!)

[captain_jeeves]

Originally Posted by fmgc

I took this pic of my PFD n the cruise the other day:



Can anybody explain that very strange radar return?

For years I have been flying around wondering what it is. Often seems to occur around central Europe.

A WX Radar antenna will, often, act like a gyro and experience a level of momentary precession when acted upon by Acceleration, Deceleration, Turning or very light chop. Typically, it will happen when the change in motion is quite small.

If this WX Radar image was only momentary, it was probably the result of that precession phenomenon, and is in fact, a ground return.


Reference: Manufacturers WX Radar users manual

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