"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Njcyb.362928$Fm2.362681@attbi_s04...
As we passed through 500 feet AGL, we experienced some moderate
turbulence,
followed by some really "hinky" air -- you know, the kind that lifts first
one wing sharply, then the other? It's an almost uncontrolled feeling,
where you really just kind of keep things pointed in the right direction
as
you climb through it.

Then, the most amazing thing happened. Our ground speed, which had been
an
anemic 90 knots or so climbing out in a shallow "cruise climb", suddenly
accelerated sharply. Within seconds, we were doing 130 knots climbing on
the SAME HEADING that had given us a headwind just moments earlier!

Nearly the same experience a couple years ago. I timed a ground speed
of 155 knots while indicating 85 -- in a Cessna 150. When I called the tower
they reported "winds light and variable" and cleared me straight in from my
position and heading. I hit the turbulence at about 1,400 AGL and SURPRISE!
before I could react, the airplane zoomed back up through the lumpy air. It
took three tries to punch down through the shear. I landed in calm air and
by the the time I had the airplance tied down the surface winds were 30+ and
gusting.