Hurricane hunters?

"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Actually, the maneuvring speed is the max speed at which full deflection
of the controls is still allowed and it is completely unrelated to gusts.
What you both mean is the max speed for tubulent air.

Yes. I didn't see any point in further confusing the poster to whom I
replied by trying to address the terminology issue at the same time. He
clearly had a specific speed in mind that was related to gusts, but that
speed does not guarantee airframe integrity under all possible conditions.

[...]
The answer to why an airplane can be torn apart by a gust even when flying
below the allowed speed for turbulent air is simple: When the gusts are
strong enough, they will just "gust" you above that speed.

That "answer" is also incomplete. The airframe can be damaged without the
relative wind rising above the relevant certificated maximum speeds.

Pete

Peter Duniho wrote:

That "answer" is also incomplete. The airframe can be damaged without the
relative wind rising above the relevant certificated maximum speeds.

I think there is a maximum gust amplitude for which the integrity of the
airframe is guaranteed. Don't know how much it is nor where that would
be defined, though. (Most probably in the FARs (USA) or the JARs
(Europe), but I'm not going to search.)

Stefan

"Stefan" wrote in message
...
I think there is a maximum gust amplitude for which the integrity of the
airframe is guaranteed.

There is, and a gust greater than that may damage the airframe. Regardless
of what airspeed one is flying.

Which is what I said.

The bottom line: there is no speed at which one can guarantee the airframe
won't be damaged. Even sitting still on the ground, it is theoretically
possible to have a strong enough wind to damage the airframe.

"Safe" flight through a hurricane involves a LOT more than just picking the
right airspeed.

Pete