Microlighters

As a lot would know, I have had my run-inns with bad weather. What scares me a bit is that often pilots will read a thread on weather and comment among the lines of "oh wow, did not know THAT could happen!" and "Good for you for staying alive", etc.

I think there is a rich source of knowledge about personal experiences that a lot of us went through in terms of weather. Would it not be cool to start a "MET ACADEMY" thread?

The conditions of posting however must be personal experience. Then you can describe what happened, research the principles involved, and give advice from your experience - helping others not to do the same. You may not simply post interesting photo's or links - you need to give a "lecture" from the basis of your OWN experience.

Weather is such a complicated topic, and not all take shine to the academic principles. However, IT WILL KILL YOU if you do not understand it. And sometimes even if you do. So how about sharing those weather experiences on a practical level, WITH an analysis of what went on, and advice on how to avoid it / manage it, for everyone else to learn?

Just an idea.

EXAMPLE: " I took of for a 30 mile cross country, in clear weather. Halfway to my destination, ground fog moved in and I had to turn back / land in a field."

WHY did this happen?

If this happened to you - start a topic. Ask the questions. Put forward your own ideas. Tell us how you managed the situation. By the time the topic runs into page 4, a LOT would have been learned by all, because everyone knows something that someone else doesn't. Like Wikipedia!

Would be nice to see a thread running for pages and pages that actually adds some value.

Great suggestion *

May I suggest that it be kept under specific headings for easy reference when people post ? For example, do not post just as "Turbulence". Identify what you experienced and post as e.g. Gust fronts, Thermals, Ridge lift, Shear layers, Rotor etc ?

More MPL's are lost (abandon the sport) as a result of not understanding the sky than what we (physically) loose as a result of impulsive low flying and hitting wires. Both losses are inexcusable. But the one can be fixed through education, the other unfortunately is done by an inevitable gamble of choices. Cables will win, but meteorology can be overcome through knowledge. All "turbulence" is not bad and there is no reason why a microlight should be hangared by 08h30 in the mornings.

Fear is only a result of the unknown. Knowing through knowledge what to expect in the air will rmove fear. Struss bob.

Learning to understand the sky is the easy one without gamble. Turbulence is your friend and your foe. But learning which is which is the answer. Some of my best flights in a trike have been in the middle of the day.

*'s suggestion for a sticky therefore sounds great.

* for president Edit: Asterix for BWAB* president.

* Back With A Bang

Asterix,

You really return with a bang and with a very good suggestion - hope the moderators will take heed of this request.

We can learn a great deal from other experiences.

Great Idea!

Also, how about listing the BEST and MOST RELIABLE sources of good weather information (http://www.wearthersa.co.za, http://www.windguru.com, other?) at the top of such a "sticky", and also, from our more experienced "weather flyers" , to provide some examples of INTERPRETATION of the conditions presented on the forecasts, AS THEY EMERGE!!

Even a "Weather Warning" blog, for the less-experienced PICs, when some bad weather is on the way! I find pilots often "look local" and don't properly analyse national/global conditions and the impending impact thereof on local conditions.

Any nominations for Micolighters SA Weather Blog Officer? Asterix??

Thoughts?

Safe Flying,

John

Good idea James... I could certainly learn a lot from such a section

Has my support...

See here: viewforum.php?f=35