SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/drone-microburst-headwind-first

Flying into a microburst, what does an aircraft usually meet first?

A performance-boosting headwind, then a downdraft, then a strong tailwind.

  1. A strong tailwind
  2. A performance-boosting headwind ✔
  3. A sudden total calm

Why: Air from a microburst slams down and spreads out. Flying in, you first hit outflow as a headwind, then the downdraft in the middle, then a tailwind that robs performance.

Huh, didn't know that: A typical microburst lasts only about 5 to 15 minutes but can produce downdrafts of up to 6,000 feet per minute.

The dad joke
What's a tornado's favorite game? Twister.
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Sources

  1. FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22), Ch. 3b https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/remote_pilot_study_guide.pdf

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