Best Storm Stories

Just me and a large cup of iced tea in the right seat were ferrying a
King Air from Dothan, AL to Centennial Airport in Denver. I was
penetrating a squall line around Memphis at FL180 using radar to avoid
the yellow, red, and purple areas. It one point I came out of the
clouds only to be able to see what was all around and below me. I wish
I hadn't gotten that short look out the window!

I spent the night in western Kansas visiting friends and, next morning
looking at the weather display at the airport found the entire state of
Kansas was shown in red. I filed IFR to APA via OKC and departed. When
the controller gave me my clearance he asked: "Let me get this
straight. You're going to Denver by way of Oklahoma City?" I said,
"That's affirm. I have a company credit card and I'm not feeling
lucky." The last leg was smooth sailing.


On 2/9/2015 10:40 AM, Benedict Smith wrote:
Now take a look at the aviation herald to see what happened yesterday!
http://avherald.com/h?article=48188170&opt=0
Great timing on your story....

At 17:21 09 February 2015, JJ Sinclair wrote:
With storms pounding both coasts, I thought it would be fun to tell out
bes=
t (worst) storm story. I'll kick it off with my favorite. 1950's, old JJ
w=
as a boom operator on a tanker crew and we were on a refueling mission
over=
Colorado. There was a big thunderstorm between us and the rendezvous
point=
.. The newly formed USAF was not to be stopped by any weather, latter on
LeM=
ay decreed that "No peacetime mission required penetrating a
thunderstorm",=
but in 1953 we charged right on in! The cloud turned a pale green,
except
=
when lightning struck, then everything turned red! Vertical gusts were
unre=
al, everyone tightened up their straps and hung on. As the props de-iced,
s=
ome of it would hit the fuselage and it was like being inside a drum with
s=
omeone beating on it with a bat! After about 5 minutes of this, the AC
scre=
amed; Navigator, should we keep going or turn around? In a calm voice,
the
=
Navigator replied, I don't know, sir, the hail just knocked out my radar!
I believe the Navigator was the only one on the crew that wasn't scared
shi=
tless!=20
We finally flew out the other side and then made a precautionary landing
at=
Denver. I can still see the big hole in the ray dome and a good 10
inches
=
of ice built up on the little stub antennas.
OK, Who's next?
JJ


--
Dan Marotta