Microburst causes planes to takeoff by themselves - video

A microburst causes multiple glider tow planes to takeoff by themselves.

Microbursts are kinda like the opposite of tornadoes: the air moves downward and out instead of inward and up. They're rightly feared by pilots, and, in this 2:30 video, you can see why. This is at KAFF in Colorado Springs, CO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_WmjWAGkLI

Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...airplane-58088
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When I was a pilot, we would use high winds for STOL. Some of the really light aircraft would instantly leave the ground when they were nosed into the wind. I think the shortest take off I had was 10 feet in a two place Glass Air with 40-knot winds down the pipe. One pilot of a Rans RV almost lost it and nearly ended up flipped.

I remember one of my very first lessons. The weather changed rapidly and we were getting tossed around in our 172. My instructor insisted on taking the controls (not that I objected!), and headed straight back to the airport, mumbling something about a microburst. We landed and taxied to the flight school parking lot, flopping and bouncing the whole way. I start to get out to tie down the plane; one of the few things I could do correctly at that point. My instructor stops me. Then another instructor came running out of the hangar, yelling "Stay in the airplane!", while he quickly tied it down. They later explained that our combined weight was the only thing keeping the plane on the ground.

Regarding STOL, this is one of my favorite aviation videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQJKW5vfvog

I love balloon tire bush planes.

Nice GIF of, I don't know, maybe a 10-foot takeoff? Probably good headwind conditions, but the wind doesn't look that crazy. These talented bush pilots are almost flying VTOL craft.

https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net/stol.gif

I like this one too. HUGE headwind, but it shows how much headwind reduces necessary landing distance.

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Never had a landing that short.

747 in an airplane boneyard dreams of its glory days.

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just goes to show how air worthy those big birds are They've even got built in VTOL just add a really strong wind

Without the 4 turbo fan jet engines or fuel, the airframe is quite a bit lighter. The interior seating might also have been removed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PDXsparky

Without the 4 turbo fan jet engines or fuel, the airframe is quite a bit lighter. The interior seating might also have been removed.

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You are correct we don't know how many parts or whole systems may have been removed, for all we know it may be a completely gutted air frame but even at that there is still a significant amount of weight remaining. Here is the source of the clip, he says there were gusts of up to 100 MPH.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHhZwvdRR5c
Read the comments section the old girl just wants to fly 1 last time

I'm not so sure that this isn't a fake video. There are to many other objects that are nearby that should be moving around to if the wind is strong enough to lift this mighty machine.

Likely just the shell left. Instruments and controls all removed. Seating, interior panels etc. Nothing but an aluminum shell. Might want to look into anchoring that beast to the ground!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jon

I like this one too. HUGE headwind, but it shows how much headwind reduces necessary landing distance.

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Airspeed is airspeed. Whether you are moving or not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Airspeed is airspeed. Whether you are moving or not.

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Yep; ever see a guy in a small plane misjudge the direction of the wind sock and try to take off in a Piper cub with 30 MPH cross wind gusts NOT Pretty.

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I bet that didn't end well

I managed to land a Cessna 182RG at Tucson during a series of m-bursts; first pass was a chicken run (never touched down, missed approach), second pass like a Globetrotters' game, but managed to stay grounded after two bounces. Needless to say, I waited for sunshine & clean britches before leaving.