View Full Version : Is it possible?
franklin
16 May 2003, 17:02
Is it possible for say, a fighter aircraft to pass through a tornado un hurt or would it be torn up? I heard those weather craft that trace hurricanes fly in them so i'm guessing it's possible to fly threw a tornado.
sincerely, franklin
DFC5343
16 May 2003, 17:10
One time...at band camp...
franklin
16 May 2003, 18:15
heh, band camp i've never been there but i had to goto a church camp once, damn i hated that place.No sir i meant tornado's sir
Invisible J
16 May 2003, 19:49
Franklin, the answer to your question is no. The wind speeds in a tornado are two to three times faster than those found in a hurricane.
specwarnet
18 May 2003, 02:12
Is there an engineer in the house?
OK, here's the viewpoint of a former aircraft mechanic.
Depending on the tornado it might survive
The really big ones... well the velocity would probably carry out the other side but you;d have severe damage.
An airplane's structure is designed to takes loads a certain way. When you're flying the air is pushing back on, say, the vertical tail, but not pushing much from side to side. So the structure's designed to take the pushing back load but not much side to side.
Hurricanes can be flown in because, while the air is moving fast, it's "relatively" steady. A tornado would be a different story. You'd have much more intense winds providing loads in unplanned for directions at a very rapid pace. If it was just a quick pass through a small one it might not do much damage (other than flying through whatever shit was pulled up from the ground). But if it's a big one you're going to bend the airplane in ways that are not conductive towards continued operations.
Even a minor (F1) tornado would cause damage to the aircraft. Walk through a dut devil one afternoon to see what a small tornado is like.
Penetrating a Hurricane is not as difficult as it sounds. There is a "neutral" zone about 10,000 ft up that is relativly stable. That is the ideal altitude for penetrating a fully formed storm. Low-level work is possible until 55kts or so, then they gain altitude.
Bravo_One_Three
18 May 2003, 03:38
OK, now my question:
Who's going to be the one to prove or disprove it by actually trying it? :D
specwarnet
19 May 2003, 15:58
Let's offer the next n00b who pisses off the admins the chance to redeam his'self if he tries! :D
I've been through typhoons on a Navy destroyer, does that count ?
For you landlubbers, a typhoon is the same as a tornado, only over water...:p
Invisible J
19 May 2003, 17:14
Originally posted by XXNavy
I've been through typhoons on a Navy destroyer, does that count ?
For you landlubbers, a typhoon is the same as a tornado, only over water...:p
Pssst.....typhoon=hurrican, a waterborne tornado is a water spout ;)
Went through a typhoon somewhere between White Beach and Hong Kong on a gator freighter, now THAT was a fun ride :D
Band camp..he he heh................hahahaaha....
HAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAHAHHA
oh geezz..that hurt
Frank: Fly AWAY from the tornado!
Seriously, the so-called "eye" of a hurricane is usually between 10 to 20 miles across, and is calm enough to fly an aircraft in. This area is relatively clear, without rain or heavy cloud cover. This is where those C-130 and P-3 weather planes fly, and it is quite safe to do so. Just be sure that, if you decide to try it, you avoid the eye's wall... that is where huge pressure-changes can cause winds up to approx. 200 mph.
Kids, don't try this at home!
FITTER :eek:
Sweetbriar
19 May 2003, 20:33
I hadn't thought of walking thru a dust devil before. I've driven thru a couple of stout ones, but ought I really give walking a try just for funsies some time?
(I don't mean to be a dumb blonde here, but it might liven up the day if it wouldn't hurt.)
Fitter,
How do those weather planes get into the "so called" eye without flying through the eye wall?
Huey One Four
20 May 2003, 08:27
Maybe work out where its going to form and plonk yourself right in the middle?
Originally posted by WSC Guy
Fitter,
How do those weather planes get into the "so called" eye without flying through the eye wall?
Over the top. The whole thing is about 40,000 feet high, IIRC.
FITTER
Wrong answer,
WC-130's do not fly that high. They penetrate the eye wall. The crews come in about 10,000 feet (referred to as the 700 mb level by meteorologists).
Originally posted by WSC Guy
Wrong answer,
WC-130's do not fly that high. They penetrate the eye wall. The crews come in about 10,000 feet (referred to as the 700 mb level by meteorologists).
Roger that. If I had taken the time to read your earlier post WRT that "neutral" zone more carefully, I would have seen that you had already said this once before.
C-130 service ceiling is 33,000 feet... 40,000 feet would be almost eight miles up. My bad.
Damn... must be a rough ride through the eye wall.
FITTER
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