|
previous topic :: next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4316 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
|
 Mon Aug 18, 08 2:06 pm |
 |
|
To be honest, lightning would not be the thing that would scare me the most in these conditions. There are several different wind phenomenon associated with convective weather that could ruin your whole day. I've seen gust fronts 10 miles ahead of the thunderstorms hit 80 mph. Add in microbursts, updrafts, etc and you have a recipe for disaster. You probably won't live through an 80 mph gust if you're tied to a kite.
I know we don't see these types of wind around here very often, compared to other parts of the country. But they do happen. If there is convective activity anywhere near you, seriously consider landing your kite ASAP. |
|
|
Reaper356
Since 10 Dec 2006
781 Posts
Salem / LC Oregon
Opinionated
|
| Mon Aug 18, 08 3:29 pm |
|
|
| Convective weather means it's based on convection heating? |
|
|
brass
Since 15 Jul 2006
152 Posts
Stoked
|
| Mon Aug 18, 08 3:52 pm |
|
|
| Had that happen to me once kiting in the DR. There was no lightining but the clouds were coming. Started to notice late in the session that every time I jumped I got a pulse on the landing. Three or four times was emough to figure out that it was time to go in. |
|
|
FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
|
| Mon Aug 18, 08 4:02 pm |
|
|
| Nak wrote: | To be honest, lightning would not be the thing that would scare me the most in these conditions. There are several different wind phenomenon associated with convective weather that could ruin your whole day. I've seen gust fronts 10 miles ahead of the thunderstorms hit 80 mph. Add in microbursts, updrafts, etc and you have a recipe for disaster. You probably won't live through an 80 mph gust if you're tied to a kite.
I know we don't see these types of wind around here very often, compared to other parts of the country. But they do happen. If there is convective activity anywhere near you, seriously consider landing your kite ASAP. |
Yep, and it's even worse if you are flying a paraglider when it hits 
Kelton and I both got caught in a mild gust front once while flying paragliders a few years ago and we both barely made it to ground without incident by standing on our speed bars. There was no sign of virga (falling rain under a fat cummie) in front of us, but apparently it was going off behind the side of the hill we were soaring. Pretty scary stuff!
_________________
Lets FLY |
|
|
blowhard
Since 26 Dec 2005
2027 Posts
Windward
|
| Tue Aug 19, 08 6:15 am |
|
|
Convection
It's what glider pilots look for,,
once while taking a lesson in Minden Nevada
in a metal 2 place sailplane we were caught in a hailstorm
the plane was going up at a rate of 3000' a minute
in a full slip (when you turn the plane on it's side so the wings are less effective)
diving straight at the ground
As we came through 12000'
something else had to be done as we were not going down
so we straighted up and flew out of it ,
as we came through 15000'(no oxygen)
we hit some sink and was able to land
it seemed exciting to me
But the instructor was pretty shaken up |
|
|
|
