Flying in a storm last night?
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From: Here and there. Here at the moment but soon I'll be there.
Flying in a storm last night?
I was visiting Cricklade in Wiltshire yesterday and while I was there, at around 6:30/7:00pm, a large thunderstorm came over. VERY dark grey VERY low clouds, torrential rain and forked lightning. During all this I heard a light aircraft flying over quite low, I looked up and saw what I think was an Auster or early tail dragging Cessna. I couldn't see it too well due to the mirk, but it was flying dead South right towards the heart of the storm.
If this was anyone on the forum I would be interested in hearing your experiences of that flight!
If this was anyone on the forum I would be interested in hearing your experiences of that flight!
Joined: May 2001
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From: Farnham, Surrey, England
I flew back from Liverpool on the day in question, arriving o/head stockenchurch around 17.15 (local) We could see the the CB's from much further north and they were obviously reaching very high altitudes.
It suddenly went very dark as we passed beneath them - got a bit bumpy too. Then the extreme rain came accompanied by lightning all around. I have to admit to seriously considering my options. My passenger seemed to be enjoying it, so we pressed on and passed into much clearer conditions by the time we approached Farnborough.
First time I have considered the benefits of weather radar.
Flt.....
It suddenly went very dark as we passed beneath them - got a bit bumpy too. Then the extreme rain came accompanied by lightning all around. I have to admit to seriously considering my options. My passenger seemed to be enjoying it, so we pressed on and passed into much clearer conditions by the time we approached Farnborough.
First time I have considered the benefits of weather radar.
Flt.....
Last edited by fltcom; 13th May 2006 at 17:50.
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From: Cambridgeshire
Re storm
I was gonna pick up a friend from Benson but canx due to the forecaster saying the storms would arrive late afternoon. So I drove to Benson and whilst looking at ok vis and a little cloud build up wishing I had taken the plane since I got caught up in A34 car park. My 2 hour round trip took 4!! However better that way than being bold and getting caught in storms!
PPruNaholic!
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From: Buckinghamshire
Re- fltcom's post -- we don't know anything about the aircraft type, equipment, experience etc perhaps so I guess we shouldn't judge too harshly. Having said that, it didn't read well...
Anyd
Anyd
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From: Daan Saaff
"It suddenly went very dark as we passed beneath them - got a bit bumpy too. Then the extreme rain came accompanied by lightning all around. I have to admit to seriously considering my options. My passenger seemed to be enjoying it, so we pressed on and passed into much clearer conditions by the time we approached Farnborough".
Well, its madness IMHO!! Who would honestly fly under CB's as described above in fltcoms post? "Extreme rain" "Lighning all around" and then the best bit- "My passenger seemed to be enjoying it so we pressed on" This has to be a wind up!!
Or if not a wind up, perhaps a re-read of Mr Thom's met book under the heading 'Thunderstorms' or the PINK AIC is required!
Well, its madness IMHO!! Who would honestly fly under CB's as described above in fltcoms post? "Extreme rain" "Lighning all around" and then the best bit- "My passenger seemed to be enjoying it so we pressed on" This has to be a wind up!!
Or if not a wind up, perhaps a re-read of Mr Thom's met book under the heading 'Thunderstorms' or the PINK AIC is required!
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From: UK
IIRC it is the recommended procedure in the US if you 'inadvertantly' enter a thunderstorm in a light a/c to fly straight through and out the other side maintaining a level attitude and wings level. Do not try to turn or maintain altitude as the biggest danger is to overstress the airframe and risk an inflight airframe failure. If this is the case here, then it would seem that fitcom may have acted appropriately. I am interested to hear what others would suggest if for example flying in IMC and inadvertantly entering an embedded CB.
Obviously, you would never knowingly fly into a developed CB!!
Obviously, you would never knowingly fly into a developed CB!!
Last edited by 3FallinFlyer; 15th May 2006 at 20:44. Reason: to add 'may have'
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From: Daan Saaff
3FallinFlyer, agree entirely, maintain course and fly out other side.
It doesnt seem in this case that he did 'inadvertantly' fly into these CB's.
I think this is the crux of the matter, knowingly flying into active CB's.
It doesnt seem in this case that he did 'inadvertantly' fly into these CB's.
"We could see the the CB's from much further north and they were obviously reaching very high altitudes".
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In the interests of being totally accurate (even pedantic), I don't believe that CB penetration occured, but that the poster flew underneath.
Of course, I don't know what the cloudbase was, as it could be anything from a few hundred feet to a few thousand and thus the ground clearance implications of downdrafts are unclear in this context.
But put it this way, I would not do it ... and I have inadvertently penetrated an embedded cell in a light aircraft, which was one of the scariest experiences of my life. And we got away very lightly.
Of course, I don't know what the cloudbase was, as it could be anything from a few hundred feet to a few thousand and thus the ground clearance implications of downdrafts are unclear in this context.
But put it this way, I would not do it ... and I have inadvertently penetrated an embedded cell in a light aircraft, which was one of the scariest experiences of my life. And we got away very lightly.