Microburst causes planes to takeoff by themselves - video

[Jon]

A microburst causes multiple glider tow planes to takeoff by themselves.

Microbursts are kinda like the opposite of tornadoes: the air moves downward and out instead of inward and up. They're rightly feared by pilots, and, in this 2:30 video, you can see why. This is at KAFF in Colorado Springs, CO.

Previously:

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1920s airplane wing walking
Airplane short takeoff/landing records
Wing snaps off airplane, whole-plane parachute deploys
Bird strike through Cessna 210 windshield
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James Bond flies world's smallest jet through hangar in Octo*****
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[Loose Ctrl]

When I was a pilot, we would use high winds for STOL. Some of the really light aircraft would instantly leave the ground when they were nosed into the wind. I think the shortest take off I had was 10 feet in a two place Glass Air with 40-knot winds down the pipe. One pilot of a Rans RV almost lost it and nearly ended up flipped.

[Jon]

I remember one of my very first lessons. The weather changed rapidly and we were getting tossed around in our 172. My instructor insisted on taking the controls (not that I objected!), and headed straight back to the airport, mumbling something about a microburst. We landed and taxied to the flight school parking lot, flopping and bouncing the whole way. I start to get out to tie down the plane; one of the few things I could do correctly at that point. My instructor stops me. Then another instructor came running out of the hangar, yelling "Stay in the airplane!", while he quickly tied it down. They later explained that our combined weight was the only thing keeping the plane on the ground.

Regarding STOL, this is one of my favorite aviation videos:

[Loose Ctrl]

I love balloon tire bush planes.

[Jon]

Nice GIF of, I don't know, maybe a 10-foot takeoff? Probably good headwind conditions, but the wind doesn't look that crazy. These talented bush pilots are almost flying VTOL craft.

[Jon]

I like this one too. HUGE headwind, but it shows how much headwind reduces necessary landing distance.

[Loose Ctrl]

Never had a landing that short.

[Jon]

747 in an airplane boneyard dreams of its glory days.

[Frank S]

just goes to show how air worthy those big birds are They've even got built in VTOL just add a really strong wind

[PDXsparky]

Without the 4 turbo fan jet engines or fuel, the airframe is quite a bit lighter. The interior seating might also have been removed.