Weather Experts

[DieselFan]

Here's the problem - please be easy I'm learning...:
We all knew about the Coldfront approaching this weekend, and according to the book Understanding the Sky, if Rain is present then the front will linger a while - So for this whole week we got cold weather. But there are two types of a specific front, turbulent and stable. I THINK THIS IS THE STABLE VERSION due to Stratus clouds present?

I went flying on Saturday to test the arm out and was happy - not good for pax yet. I went out yesterday again and had 30mph winds as the norm - Bronkies, Chinese Cultura, Rhino, Kitty. Airspeed at times 60, GPS was 20-25. I was worried about the rotoring on the ground due to the bluegums. Needless to say on the ground it was 3-5mph. Yet 500ft up 25+ = 40km/h this was around 10am. So how does one identify where in the front you are, alt and distance wise? I know cold fronts work on a gradient was this it or was the wind pumping such it bounced over the runway? The book is great but unless you see LOADS of colour photos it's still too much guess work - anyone got a video?

I took off twice yesterday and both flights were pleasant albeit slow. According to weather underground, yesterdays max gusts were late afternoon is this the norm for fronts? Afternoon or X amount of hours before or after a front?

So now on the ground we look at the sock and say Ag kak - but it might be calm / smooth up there? How does one gain more knowledge on instant predictions WITHOUT necessarily taking off OR using Met. This morning the cloud alt was low so what does it all mean? How to recognise Gusty weather?
I can't wait for 15 years down the road before I can look up and say lekker stuff lets go.

Sorry for the waffling but it's hard to put into words without repeating.

History weather - altho this is for the ground not at 500 feet agl.
http://www.wunderground.com/history/air ... atename=NA

[Smiley]

Hello Dieselfan

Good question.

I'm not to sure myself and will watch this space with anticipation.

I usually phone MET and ask them the weather conditions in the area I'll be flying in. Get wind direction and speed at about 6000ft ect.

[DieselFan]

I usually phone MET and ask them the weather conditions in the area I'll be flying in. Get wind direction and speed at about 6000ft ect.

But met look at radar etc they don't look outside ie at the specific shapes of the clouds? They aren't flying in it. I mean reading Dave / Bennies post was so great even if is was almost a washing machine ad, but those conditions can catch us all and best we be prepared better.

It's almost like you need to carry an instructor in your pocket Or have a sticky thread where we can take pictures of the sky and have experts tell us about it? Eventually we'll all get to know and make better predictions.

[Smiley]

Ok Ok....

I've got one more tool that I use

My flying buddy Rudi has a webpage with current weather conditions ect. You can download the map with all on it on your cellphone.

It gives you the intensity of the clouds, wind speed and direction.

So, I do a download at 23h00 the day before I fly, then again quickly at about 02h00 , and when I wake up to go fly.

It gives you a good indication what the clouds are doing i.e. is it building, moving in a certain direction ect ect and the wind conditions.

Maybe not pricely what you need but it helps.

Here the web address for you cellphone:

http://www.rvclubsa.com/wx1.htm