If I am in an area where moderate or greater turbulence can be expected (or
is possible) like desending to an airport in mountainous terrain with the
wind howling, I slow down whether I am currently experiencing any turbulence
or not. If I am flying along below small cumulus and experiencing some
bumps, I don't slow down.

There is nothing wrong with slowing down if you are uncomfortable. I would
try to keep everything in the green arcs as much as possible though.

Mike
MU-2


"Marco Rispoli" wrote in message
et...
One of the things that TERRIFIED me for the longest time was turbulence.

In fact, the very reason why my wife bought me a "Discovery Flight" at the
very beginning (and got me hooked to flying) was to get me to see that
there
was nothing to fear from planes, after me and her had a really bad (for
me)
flight back from Italy.

Ok ... after a little less than 100 hours of flight I have had my dose of
turbulence in flight ... while at the controls of a plane.

It is reccommended that if you encounter turbulence you slow down below Va
(manouvering speed), so if you encounter an especially stiff gust the
plane
will stall before pulling enough Gs to snap a wing. That's what the book
says ... and I used to follow it to the letter, to the point that even the
minimum turbulence would make me slow down to below Va.

I remember once, during a mock checkride with a senior instructor we
encountered some turbulence and I instinctively pulled the power to slow
the
plane below Va.

The intructor's reaction was instantaneous and unyelding:
"The hell are you doin'?" (Heavy Staten Island accent).
"Slowing the plane below manouvering speed" I say, my tone of voice like
that of a guy that has just been asked why the sun comes up in the
morning.
"Why?"
"Ah .. " I stammer surprised by the question ... isn't it obvious why?
"Because we are in turbulence?" it was supposed to be a statement but it
came out as a question ... a sheepish question at that.
The Instructor roars in laughter, for an instant louder than the engine.
"Dude, this is not turbulence. Put that power back in. I want to see that
needle at 2400 RPMs, in the RPM green arc." End of the argument.

It was light turbulence with occasional moderate. It was one of those cold
late winter days when winter is about to give up to spring but doesn't
quite
like the idea ...

To me it felt like we were getting slammed. To him this wasn't even a
tickle. Obviously our concepts of turbulence differed dramatically.

So, question to the more seasoned and weathered pilots out the

If I am clear air (VFR), and I am not close to mountains (so I don't have
to
worry about mountain waves), and I am flying around in my little cutie
Piper
Cherokee 180 do I even need to worry about turbulence?

I am just about done reading Rod Machado's IFR book and the bottom line is
that you need to be inside a thunderstorm in order to start worrying about
turbulence. In most conditions, just flying around VFR in your everyday
CAT
(Clear Air Turbulence) doesn't warrant fussing about it, and all you
really
have to do is just stay in the green arc. That's all.

According to what the book is saying, only older planes really need to
worry
about Va in moderate turbulence. Modern planes (certified after 69) can
fly
right through it, as long as you stay in the green arc.

I don't plan to fly into thunderstorms any time soon ... so, do I even
need
to worry about manouvering speed if I am just flying in one of those gusty
fall or spring Northeast VFR days?

Is staying below the green arc good enough?

--
Marco Rispoli - NJ, USA / PP-ASEL
My on-line aviation community - http://www.thepilotlounge.com