Microburst Video from USAFA

[Stealth_81]

On 4/23/14 a 55 knot microburst hit the USAFA airfield while tow planes were lined up to take the glider team up for training. This video shows the incredible airmanship displayed by the tow plane pilots in keeping their aircraft and the personnel around them safe.

Video

Stealth_81

 

[ParkMom]

Wow!

And I mean WOW!! That was amazing, scary and amazing! Thanks for posting that! Kudos to those pilots and crew!

 

[LineInTheSand]

Help a sea-level guy understand what's happening here.

Did the microburst launch the yellow tow planes in the air and the pilots just took control?

It's amazing footage! Glad our Air Force pilots are excellent at what they do.

 

[MedB]

And this is an example of why I tell me wife not to worry... if our children our going to learn to do dangerous things, then where better than to learn from the very freaking best!

 

[Physicsguru]

Help a sea-level guy understand what's happening here.

Did the microburst launch the yellow tow planes in the air and the pilots just took control?

It's amazing footage! Glad our Air Force pilots are excellent at what they do.

Almost right. The microburst hit, and the planes started to move and even go to flip. The pilots applied forward power to control the aircraft, and in two cases had enough airspeed to take off. The first one to take off actually *had* to launch, otherwise, the plane would have rolled on the airfield.

Heads up flying!

 

[PJ Allen]

Absolutely an awesome display of airmanship! (Tower was ON IT too).

Pucker Factor 10!




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[Alaskan Mom]

WOW! Very Impressive!!!

 

[raimius]

Almost right. The microburst hit, and the planes started to move and even go to flip. The pilots applied forward power to control the aircraft, and in two cases had enough airspeed to take off. The first one to take off actually *had* to launch, otherwise, the plane would have rolled on the airfield.

Heads up flying!

Yeah, looked like the one had a wingtip strike a couple times. He would have likely flipped into the other tow plane if he didn't take off.
The other one looked like he was getting pushed onto the active runway area and possibly into a glider/cadets. He applied power and took off to the South (left).

Scary situation, as there aren't any really good options. You can try to stay on the ground and hope you don't flip or get blown into something or you can take-off into some VERY unforgiving and variable winds.