Rough Trike TakeOff

Diego takes off into a substantial 25 mph wind-shear that begins at about 40 feet. His AirCreation Racer trike quickly pitches up so much that Diego had to quickly reduce power with the control bar pulled all the way back to his chest. Diego tried to land at two other inland airfields, but the turbulance was so extreme that it knocked his feet off of the control-pedals several times. He finally flew west to the ocean and landed on the beach where the wind, blowing in across the ocean was strong, but smooth. After landing at sundown, he had to remain seated in the trike, controlling the wing to keep the trike from being blown over. He made a cellphone call to us, and we arrived at the beach about 40 minutes later and disassembled the wing on the trike, in the dark while Diego remained seated, still controlling the wing.

[@tailwheelflier]

new word for you guys, PIO (pilot induced oscelation), that airplane doesn't know the winds blowing about 2 seconds after takeoff, it's just in the flow, the pilot is simply "behind" the aircraft

[@jwm239]

....probably a bit of rotor among those trees, below treetop height, adding to shear as the pilot encountered lots of wind gradient....opposite sequence of events to unpowered hang glider landing....usually from good headwind to drop-off of its velocity, requiring lots of airspeed on final approach, all the way to ground effect, roundout, and flare.

[@MrSportyPilot]

I can assure you that he was being tossed-about by a lot more than PIO. Your mistake is in assuming that the transition to that extreme wind-shear was smooth. Diego told us that it was so rough in level-flight, that his feet were being bounced off of the control-pedals. The only place that he could find smooth air was along the beach were there was almost no aerodynamic-heating from the off-shore breeze............. but over the hot terrain, it was an entirely different story.

[@MrSportyPilot]

@DMCcornish - No it's not safe. The surface winds were not that bad, but we were unaware of the huge wind-shear that was present about 40-feet above the field. Afternoon heating on a hot day can cause some extreme wind currents.

[@65LB]

Looking at the wind in the treetops after he gets airborne, I bet it was interesting when he cleared the treetops and found it a bit windy.
I guess the rough runway is good practice for getting bounced around.
Bet the landing was a bit dicey.

[@DMCcornish]

Is it safe to fly in high winds like this?

[@aviator5177]

i wonder he landed safely or not. Trike is not safe in such windy conditions.

[@MarioIArguello]

I see no logic in even attempting to fly in that wind with a microlight or even a regular plane. It is decisions like these that get pilots killed, when they can avoid it. I disagree with not knowing or even noticing the heavy wind about 40 ft. All you had to do is look at the trees.

[@daviezee]

I agree. I want zero to 4 or 5 wind speed with steady breeze... no gusts!

[@brunocadilak26]

lol