Mountain Wave, a recent experience

[bugg smasher]

Over Iran, four-engine heavy jet, 15 degrees nose down, idle thrust, FL350, VSI showing two-thousand foot a minute ciimb rate. Holy shiite, anyone else?

[Piper_Driver]

How was the back side of the wave when you hit the downdraft?

[aterpster]

bugg smasher:


Over Iran, four-engine heavy jet, 15 degrees nose down, idle thrust, FL350, VSI showing two-thousand foot a minute ciimb rate. Holy shiite, anyone else

It happens over significant mountains when the winds are exceeding a certain speed and crossing the range at a certain angle.

This is always a problem with the Rockies.

Like the other guy said, how did the ride on the down side work out?

I doubt the Iranians cared so long as you were paying the transit fees. :)

[bugg smasher]

In this instance the backside was relatively calm, not really expected due the extreme excursions on the front of the wave. Autothrust was working hard to maintain airspeed throughout the maneuver. I am continually in wonder, though, of the Airbus folks, and the grossly underpowered machines they fly.

I have considerable experience working the front range of the Rockies in all seasons, was just very surprised at the intensity of this encounter.

[BOAC]

Of course BS could have been lucky, and no 'down draught' depending on track.

I told a tale while a back of idle to full throttle over the Scottish highlands many years ago in a light twin with speed from near stall to max IAS.

[Fitter2]

In the '60s a Vulcan over Scotland (captain a rather experienced glider pilot in his spare time). Plaintive voice over the i/com from Nav/plotter in the back 'all engines are at flight idle and we are apparently climbing at 1,000 fpm. Will somebody please tell me what's going on?'

[Piltdown Man]

I've "wave soared" a F100 (just east of the Pennines) - maintained level and speed at Flight Idle, assisted F27s and F50s to climb with wave and thermals but there's a limit to what you can do when you are flying with passengers.

PM