Mountain wave

On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 11:03:24 -0400, Todd Pattist
wrote in
::

BTW, pilots, particularly in airplanes, should be really
careful about slowing down and trying to outclimb a mountain
wave. The preferred response is to put the nose down and go
fast (assuming you can get a clearance for a lower alt if
you're not VFR). It's often impossible to climb faster than
the sinking air. Slowing down just gives teh air longer to
try to shove you down into those granite bumpy things below
that are causing the wave. The best response is usually to
get through the down cycle of the wave as quickly as you
can. It's also the most efficient response, particuarly when
coupled with slowing during the up part of the wave.

Right. That's what glider guiders do: slow in rising air, and dive
through downdrafts.

But when I discussed this with a CFII, he said, "what goes up, comes
down." His advise was to hold a constant airspeed while flying VFR
through wave activity, and permit altitude excursions to occur. In
the end it should all balance out, and the pilot should find himself
at approximately the same altitude at which he entered the wave
activity upon exiting it.