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> Are storms often strong enough to knock a plane out of the sky? Simply put: yes. Not just any thunderstorm. All thunderstorms. All aircraft avoid thundersto
by rlpb 6y ago
> Are storms often strong enough to knock a plane out of the sky?
Simply put: yes. Not just any thunderstorm. All thunderstorms.
All aircraft avoid thunderstorms. It's not a case of discomfort for humans inside it; it's about the risk to aircraft themselves.
Thunderstorms contain severe updrafts and downdrafts and huge windshear between them. Aircraft cannot outclimb the downdrafts so cannot maintain altitude inside them. And severe windshear will tear them apart.
The only reason you don't hear about aircraft lost in thunderstorms is because pilots avoid them. All of them.
- m4rtink 6y agoA friend of mine who is a glider pilot once compared thunderstorm to a steamroller. If you get hit by the leading edge your plane will get smashed into the ground. If you somehow get to the back part, your plane might end up in the stratosphere, which might be just as fatal due to very low temperature and lack of oxygen. He mentioned some early gliding pioneers who were insane and lucky enough managed to "ride" a thunderstorm and achieve record breaking flight distance - and somehow not getting killed in the process.
- hamandcheese 6y agoSo how do hurricane hunters survive? Are hurricanes less, for lack of a better word, volatile?