PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Shoreham R31 in a 152
View Single Post
Old 9th Aug 2010, 22:47
  #15 (permalink)  
SkyHawk-N
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Here and there. Here at the moment but soon I'll be there.
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's only a question of degree.

In the world of gas flow, there is no such thing as "sudden".

The reason wind shear can cause crashes is because some planes (notably jets) are unable to increase their airspeed fast enough to overcome the loss of airspeed due to the headwind reducing on final approach.

Pistons are usually more able to cope with wind shear, though I know of a TB20 owner who was trying to land with a surface wind of about 55kt (straight down the runway) and busted the nosegear (and the prop, etc). With a 55kt reported surface wind you can expect a big loss of airspeed - even between the top of the pole where it is measured and the surface.
Have you ever experienced flying through a windshear? Not a reducing headwind but one where there is a significant, SUDDEN change of wind speed AND direction, even a complete 180 degree change in direction?

If you have experienced it you would know that there is much more to it than what you alude to in your response above. All aircraft types can be severely affected by it, and at anytime, not just when landing.
SkyHawk-N is offline