Air Facts

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Turbulence Air Facts Journal Space is infinite in its complexity. From trolling our imagination into creating giant rockets that carry us, humans, into space, the final frontier. And tampering our mental reserves with turbulent mischief. Turbulence is unpredictable. Similar mechanics are at play in clear air turbulence.

Turbulence 52

Turbulence Wind Shear Knot Lift 52

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

We finally broke out on top into dazzling sunlight carrying about one inch of rime ice. This particular 172 normally cruised at 120 mph indicated airspeed, but with the ice it would barely do 90 mph and that required full throttle! It got turbulent, and then very turbulent. What had happened?

VOR 52

VOR Weather Approach Runway 52

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

At one point, we entered a region of sufficient turbulence that I disengaged the autopilot to hand-fly. Caught in series of up and down drafts, the autopilot pitched the Warrior aggressively to maintain altitude and the indicated airspeed trended too high in each updraft.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Weather Runway 52

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

That produced a strange traffic pattern with roller coasters at the corners.)

General Aviation 98

General Aviation Pilot Approach Airplanes 98

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

Without knowing the horizontal wind direction and speed at this point it is impossible to say what his indicated airspeed was. The ADSB trace shows Shmulik’s ground speed of 92 kt as he began his final turn. 1000 ft AGL, planning to fly a very steep final approach.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52