Getting sucked up into a cloud...
Getting sucked up into a cloud...
I bet if you ever got sucked up into a cloud, you'd be amazed at all the stuff that's up there in the cloud...all the stuff it's been sucking up over the years...no tellin what's in there...
Cloud spit
You name it...
Another thing that's dangerous about cloudsuck that most people don't realize... You can also get spit out of a cloud, (cloud spit), and it's not neccessarily going to be the same cloud, you might get sucked up into one over Kagel, and get spit out of one way out in the middle of nowhere. It's very unpredictable. They're like wormholes.
Another thing that's dangerous about cloudsuck that most people don't realize... You can also get spit out of a cloud, (cloud spit), and it's not neccessarily going to be the same cloud, you might get sucked up into one over Kagel, and get spit out of one way out in the middle of nowhere. It's very unpredictable. They're like wormholes.
Close yer eyes and run like hell across the lawn. Seriously, that's what flying in a cloud without instruments feels like. Makes a man a mouse every time.
Last edited by Christian on Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It seems for many that unless you've been scared by cloud suck, you're generally not too interested in learning how to avoid it. It's not too tricky if you know how and you're aware of when the potential exists.
In reality, getting sucked into a cloud and not being able to get out is not likely unless there is significant vertical development in the cloud layer but this can be very hard to see, especially with cloud development over large areas. It's best to think it can happen anytime clouds form, so you'll be prepared to prevent getting in the clouds. Here's how Windsports teaches to prevent getting caught off guard by it.
1.Before launching, consider the potential for cloud development (weather briefing, talk to experienced pilots, etc). After launching, keep an eye out for it.
2. If clouds appear, monitor your minimum sink climb rate in thermals. Unless you are certain that you are thousands of feet below a cloud, don't continue to climb in a thermal if your climb rate is greater than 500 fpm. If it is, level your wings, pull in enough (dive) to stop climbing, and head away from the mountains towards the the nearest blue sky area. As soon as you leave the lift, your sink rate will (at that speed) will increase greatly. You are no longer in danger of being sucked up.
3. Here you have the choice to remain in the sink to lose some altitude before heading back under the cloud for lift (assuming it's not a cu-nimb), or immediately turn back into the lift to try and circle, half-in and half-out of the lift, so you can easily maintain altitude while constantly monitoring the escape route of sink.
Remember, one of the hang gliders deficiencies is it's inability to come down (vertically) quickly. Many pilot/glider combinations are unable to descend even as much as 800 ft. per minute in a full dive. This means that they cannot prevent going upwards if lift is greater than 800 fpm. It's important to know your safe max descent rate and to be able to maximize it, so you know what amount of lift must be avoided in the presence of clouds. You can do this by climbing in thermals, departing them and looking for air gives you your expected min. sink rate at min sink speed, and then spiral diving while watching your vario. Work up on this gradually, and be careful not to exceed the VNE speed of your glider. For a Falcon that's 42 mph, for a Talon or Litespeed it's 54 mph.
Note: If faced with the option of getting sucked up in a cu-nimb., or diving faster than my VNE, I think I'll exceed the VNE.
Hope this helps some.
Joe
In reality, getting sucked into a cloud and not being able to get out is not likely unless there is significant vertical development in the cloud layer but this can be very hard to see, especially with cloud development over large areas. It's best to think it can happen anytime clouds form, so you'll be prepared to prevent getting in the clouds. Here's how Windsports teaches to prevent getting caught off guard by it.
1.Before launching, consider the potential for cloud development (weather briefing, talk to experienced pilots, etc). After launching, keep an eye out for it.
2. If clouds appear, monitor your minimum sink climb rate in thermals. Unless you are certain that you are thousands of feet below a cloud, don't continue to climb in a thermal if your climb rate is greater than 500 fpm. If it is, level your wings, pull in enough (dive) to stop climbing, and head away from the mountains towards the the nearest blue sky area. As soon as you leave the lift, your sink rate will (at that speed) will increase greatly. You are no longer in danger of being sucked up.
3. Here you have the choice to remain in the sink to lose some altitude before heading back under the cloud for lift (assuming it's not a cu-nimb), or immediately turn back into the lift to try and circle, half-in and half-out of the lift, so you can easily maintain altitude while constantly monitoring the escape route of sink.
Remember, one of the hang gliders deficiencies is it's inability to come down (vertically) quickly. Many pilot/glider combinations are unable to descend even as much as 800 ft. per minute in a full dive. This means that they cannot prevent going upwards if lift is greater than 800 fpm. It's important to know your safe max descent rate and to be able to maximize it, so you know what amount of lift must be avoided in the presence of clouds. You can do this by climbing in thermals, departing them and looking for air gives you your expected min. sink rate at min sink speed, and then spiral diving while watching your vario. Work up on this gradually, and be careful not to exceed the VNE speed of your glider. For a Falcon that's 42 mph, for a Talon or Litespeed it's 54 mph.
Note: If faced with the option of getting sucked up in a cu-nimb., or diving faster than my VNE, I think I'll exceed the VNE.
Hope this helps some.
Joe