Reno Air Races

Flying an Electra on approach to Miami following just a little B-727,
I suddenly found myself in a 60 degree bank. Fortunately, skill, daring
and 600' of altitude saved the day, and my ass.

Yeah, I had a similar experience flying behind a C-130 into
Albuquerque. It got my attention.

An L-39 ain't a prop plane, however. It's a sleek, dart-like design
with stubby wings that would seem to offer little aerodynamic traction
for that kind of turbulence.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:


An L-39 ain't a prop plane, however. It's a sleek, dart-like design
with stubby wings that would seem to offer little aerodynamic traction
for that kind of turbulence.

The shape of the plane has exactly nothing to do with it. Weight is
everything.

"Newps" wrote in message
...


Jay Honeck wrote:


An L-39 ain't a prop plane, however. It's a sleek, dart-like design
with stubby wings that would seem to offer little aerodynamic traction
for that kind of turbulence.

The shape of the plane has exactly nothing to do with it. Weight is
everything.

Umm...the aspect ratio of the wing?

Jay Honeck wrote:
Flying an Electra on approach to Miami following just a little B-727,
I suddenly found myself in a 60 degree bank. Fortunately, skill, daring
and 600' of altitude saved the day, and my ass.

Yeah, I had a similar experience flying behind a C-130 into
Albuquerque. It got my attention.

An L-39 ain't a prop plane, however. It's a sleek, dart-like design
with stubby wings that would seem to offer little aerodynamic traction
for that kind of turbulence.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Nothing special about the L39 that would protect it from sudden roll
rate induced by wake turbulence. It's fairly well balanced
aerodynamically actually and is neutrally mass loaded; a perfect
airframe in roll.
It all depends on how close in and at what angle you intercept the
vortex and your specific flight parameters as you hit it.
Wake turbulence in my opinion, even with all that has been written about
it, is one of the most deadly aspects involved in flying, and deserves
MUCH more consideration from pilots than it gets.
DH

--
Dudley Henriques

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
Flying an Electra on approach to Miami following just a little B-727,
I suddenly found myself in a 60 degree bank. Fortunately, skill, daring
and 600' of altitude saved the day, and my ass.

Yeah, I had a similar experience flying behind a C-130 into
Albuquerque. It got my attention.

An L-39 ain't a prop plane, however. It's a sleek, dart-like design
with stubby wings that would seem to offer little aerodynamic traction
for that kind of turbulence.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


True, but the L39 was not 3 miles in trail either. Yes, wake turbulence
has seriously affected race aircraft before, the AmsOil racer comes to mind.
He was rolled near inverted going around the first pylon, and managed to
recover to an 80 degree bank as he touched the ground. I watched that
aircraft disassemble itself in about a second, and as the dust cleared,
shoulder straps popped up and Dan Mortensen stood up and walked out of the
carnage.
I do believe that If we set it up carefully, I can roll your piper more
than 60 degrees with a C150.

Al G (grew up in Reno, pumped gas at the air races as a kid)

"Al G" wrote

Al G (grew up in Reno, pumped gas at the air races as a kid)

So Al, what octane of gas do they manage to get ahold of, for the racers at
Reno?
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"Al G" wrote

Al G (grew up in Reno, pumped gas at the air races as a kid)

So Al, what octane of gas do they manage to get ahold of, for the racers
at Reno?
--
Jim in NC

Green, 100-130 when I was there. Keep in mind I graduated from Reno high
in 1970.

Al G

Jay Honeck wrote:

An L-39 ain't a prop plane, however. It's a sleek, dart-like design
with stubby wings that would seem to offer little aerodynamic traction
for that kind of turbulence.

Those guys are also pulling considerable G's which will affect wake character.


Its too bad. Condolences to all. Indeed a tragic year.

--
Message posted via AviationKB.com
http://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums...ation/200709/1

Kloudy via AviationKB.com wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote:
An L-39 ain't a prop plane, however. It's a sleek, dart-like design
with stubby wings that would seem to offer little aerodynamic traction
for that kind of turbulence.

Those guys are also pulling considerable G's which will affect wake character.


Its too bad. Condolences to all. Indeed a tragic year.

This is true. I can attest to it. I was once in direct trail with an F8F
playing around in a tail chase down low. We were alternating in turn
direction. I was close in and he had enough g on his airplane to keep me
in his marbles but not enough to throw me out into overshoot. He went
hard left on me and I followed him into the turn, then he suddenly went
even harder left, going out to all the Bear would give him. As I
followed him I hit his vortex from the now greater alpha he was
generating. It was like flying into a wrench. It damn near inverted me.
Bottom line is hat it can REALLY get hairy following into a hard turn
close in and in trail like that.
The guys at Reno are well up on this and allow for it.
DH

--
Dudley Henriques