Originally Posted by paulkinm
Is it really that dangerous for lighter aircraft to get caught up in one of these vortexes?
Absolutely.
A Cessna 150 flying right behind a 747 in it's approach configuration could have tragic consequences! The pilot would instantly become a passenger in his own aircraft. They can last for around 3 minutes from a heavy aircraft and extend several miles behind.
The REAL danger is a light aircraft LANDING right behind a heavy one. Within a second you could be flipped upside down and pointing at the ground with no room to recover. There have been plenty of fatal accidents caused from this!
The aircraft's vorticies are strongest just as it rotates on takeoff.
Cool vids:
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Mov...M-0073-01.html
http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/a...rten_Fig_1.gif
Here's some cool pics that give a good visual appreciation of them.
