Science
Wild Video Shows Desert Winds Lifting a 747 Off The Ground
- Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:32am by
Mike Opelka
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Desert winds in excess of 70 mph are not a daily event, but they do happen. Earlier this week, powerful winds ripped through Mojave, CA where airplanes awaiting the scrap heap are parked in a place commonly called “the boneyard.”
A public relations exec in Mojave named Mike Massee captured video of one retired 747 being lifted off the ground by the winds. As you can see, the engines have been removed, making the jumbo jet “tail heavy.” But it is still a pretty amazing sight to witness. The YouTube posting states that the next day, the plane was found to have turned a full 45 degrees from where it was parked. Imagine what those winds would have done to a car on the highway:
(H/T: San Diego’s Union Telegraph)
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Comments (126)
Rattle13
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:49amIn Texas we call that a breeze….
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:38pmlol :)
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:36pm@rattle
More Texas Superiority Syndrome. I’ve been there, it ain’t that great. Everyone thinks they’re right, all the time.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:05pm@GoodStuff
Report Post »It is all that great, and if you don’t agree that they are always right, well then; your just hard headed.
antiprogressive
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:13pmA good storm will often lift the nose of a/c at the airport where I work.
Turn them sideways, hit access stairs, loaders etc.
Not uncommon but cool on video…
There’s even a video out there somewhere of a small a/c flying 50MPH forward in a headwind of 70MPH just above the ground- making the plane appear to be “backing up” in midair.
Wings and wind.
Report Post »They shape those wings that way for a reason…
t00nces2
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:39pmI don’t know what they are talking about, my little truck experiences 70 mph winds on a regular basis going down I-75
Report Post »scruffycat
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 5:03pmI am glad that the trusty ole 747 that flew the globe who knows how many times got to have one last little flight before they come to cut her up. Fly little 747 fly and be free…
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 5:15pmKnew some sailors who swore that crews had to fly C130s on the runway ar Adak to keep them from blowing away. They would fire the engines and actually use the aircrafts aerodynamics to keep it in place.
Never saw it but these guys swore it was true.
OMG 2012
Report Post »teapartyguardian
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:35pmSarah needs a hug!
Report Post »mauijonny
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 5:19amAwww. It’s just having a little plane dream…
Report Post »Athinkerinaseaoflibs
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 12:24pmYour Texan attitude reminds me of a story where a Texican was bragging that it took two days to drive his truck across is ranch. Where the fellow from Oklahoma reply–Yea, I used to have a truck like that!
Report Post »Birdman17
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 1:11pmHey Athinkerinaseaoflibs,
Report Post »Know why its so windy in Texas?? Because Mexico sucks and Oklahoma blows………
DesdemonasCrew
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:47am” Imagine what those winds would have done to a car on the highway:”
Report Post »Well, maybe if the car had wings!
Snidely
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 3:59pmOf course, we did see what a the wind would do to a car at the 2:26 point. You’re right, without wings, nothing.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:47amThere had to have been a tornado close by, or was encroaching on the plane from above.
To lift a 747′s nose during take-off you need at least 150 kts of speed, depending on the flaps position.
Even at 40 degree flaps, you would need around 150 kts.
Report Post »Fedup53percenter
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:04pmthe 747 greatest flap setting is 30 degrees. Rotation can be achieved at less than 150 knots depending on weight of the aircraft. With no engines…. who knows.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:59pmTrue. After my statement, I saw that the engines were removed.
Report Post »Also, I am familiar with the 737 having 40 degree flaps, and forgot about the 747 having only 30 degree.
macpappy
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:07pmThose little tail brakes or flaps are extended also; seems that would help lift the front end. Don’t know tho.
Report Post »Flyingfish
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:31pmNo avionics, no engines, no fuel, no cargo, no seats. That plane is 100-200K lbs light, 100kts of wind and it would probably lift off the ground.
I used to be stationed down the road from Mojave at Edwards AFB. We filled our stripped aircraft with concrete, cut rail road ties, whatever we had laying around to keep them from doing that.
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 3:10pmVERY SELECTIVE WINDS — I watched VERY CLOSELY, and NOT ONE of ther other planes in that field of view appeared to move even an inch, while this one rose perhaps 8 feet?
I smell a crane or a helicopter overhead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 3:59pmPeople appear to be missing the point that the engines had been removed thus making the aircraft tail heavy. As for other evidence you can see the fuselages in the background being rolled back and forth. Also the tail behind this bird can be seen moving.
I say this bird still wants to fly.
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 12:28amIt has nothing to do with the flaps or engines being on or off of the aircraft. It was a Saturday and all the workers at the “bone yard” were all drunked up and having a party. The nose was lifting because they were all running from the front to the back and causing it to tilt. The person taking the video was the supervisor who was going to fire them after the wind died down.
Report Post »bccrane
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:10am@WoodyB: Look again in the background a fuselage is rolling with the wind also.
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:44amNow that’s one BIG weather vane!
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:41amThis video would be better if they would have played Low Rider By War. The guys just installed the hydrulics wait until they change the rims, chop the top and paint.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:30amIf you zoom in you will see a sign saying ( If this Planes a rockin don’t come a knocking ) that or blowhard Barney Frank was near by…..or maby Barney posted the sign EEWWWWWWWWWW
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:29amthese America-loving Great Plains get these high winds all the time. like Today. just another “breezy” day with 40+++mphs and mid90*s sun……. try having a BBQ grill stay lit, hahaha! ~~~ but, always a Bright Side, at least our kids playing in the creek get dried off REAL FAST.
~~~~GOD bless our U.S Military’s Fallen HEROES ~~~~~
Report Post »Buddynoel
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:23amAny plane would be light as a feather if you stripped it of all its interior furniture, avionics, walls and interior decor. However, the proprty owner should not be happy with a several-ton landing gear swinging around with much of a tether. Hard enough to keep insurance premiums down.
Report Post »Harvey1
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:16amIt’s hard to keep a great Boeing plane down!
Report Post »Blazerilla
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:28pm“Like” button!
Report Post »psychokittis
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:08pmAmen to that. The bird is just meant to fly.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:43pmor it wants to escape the chopping block
Report Post »POET
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:09amthe wind Caused by people leaving California
Report Post »raynbene
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:51amActually, it was the overflow from pelousy and moonbeam’s latest speeches about the evils of capitalism, low taxes, and limited government . . .
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:41amNo, that’s not the air that lifted the jet, it was Chris Angel performing his magic!
Report Post »hypnos
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:54amGreat commercial for those pesky headwinds thats stopping obama’s economic policies.
Report Post »Chubsky
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:39amRight now a new committee is being formed to protect the hulls of decommissioned aircraft. leftists will be flooding into the streets with “save the jets” shirts, and a harness will be designed to keep this poor 747 form the terrors of possibly harming itself through an unsuccessful take off.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:33amOkay who tweaked up the jumbo to dance like the lowrider cars?
Joking aside, that is an interesting video; weird but interesting.
Report Post »Alky
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:30am“Imagine what those winds would have done to a car on the highway:”
The highway runs right past that boneyard. I’ve been past there a hundred times in an 18 wheeler, cars hell… a ride in an 18 wheeler in high winds is far more exciting! :)
Report Post »supressorgrid
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:18amIn a way it makes one wistful watching this noble craft yearning to once again claw its way back into the sky. We built it to fly and it desires to be free.
Report Post »Skee
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:15amObama’s truth team must be in town.
Report Post »zoo9guy
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:11amLittle buddy just wants to keep flying…can’t blame him, it’s gotta be fun.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:59amBet it can’t lift Michelle!!!!
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:23amMoochelle has so little natural lift….even her bra failed. ba-da-boom! :-)
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:35amI can see the movie scene now:
Obi-wan: “Uh oh, Master Yodas onboard that transport, I think its time to make a fast withdrawl from the area…oh, Master Yoda…ulp.”
Report Post »oicu814me2
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:56amthats what they use for a wind vein out there..
Report Post »amyb73
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:52amHaha – I can think of several “alternative” captions for this video…
“Zero Emissions Jet Receives Federal Grant Following Successful Test Flight”
Report Post »“Green Jobs – Pushers Needed”
“Engineless Jet Flies on Wind Power – Short Range Flights Only”
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:49amAt least one hundred gassy muslims standing off camera…
Report Post »VoteRightDammit
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:48amThe engines are located (approximately) at the planes center of gravity – removing them does NOT make the plane more ‘tail heavy’. This is simply from the lift generated by the wind over the wings.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:07amFunny video, but as I understand it, the aircraft is just doing what it was designed to do. As you mentioned it’s the lift those massive wings provide.
Report Post »When I was 19 or maybe 20 we had to do some work on a building at the Tampa Airport, and as I watched several 747s come in for a landing they looked as if they were literally crawling through the air. I was aware of lift and had flown on the planes, but when landing it did not seem to be as slow as what I was seeing then. Amazing aircraft, and I have no idea how many times that I have flown on them.
G-WHIZ
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:20amTry mentionning the truth…The 747 is almost as efficcient as a glider. It has a [lb-lift-per-sq-food] lift almost as good as a single-engine, bi-wing trainer-plane. It really should have been temporrarilly strapped-down from the high winds. As usual, the whole truth is intentionally left out because…”Oh, the average reader CAN’T understand. They have to be spoon-fed just the right ammout, so it don’t go over their heads.”
Report Post »recoveringneocon
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:31am“Imagine what those winds would have done to a car on the highway:”
Report Post »I sure wish Mike Opelka would tell us.
single stack
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:50amThe nose isn’t being lifted by the wind over the wings. The tail is being pushed down by the wind over the horizontal stabilizers.
Report Post »johnVMFA122
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 3:55pmThe engines are mounted forward of CG though not by much, and they weigh 10k each, more than enough weight to have kept the nose down…
I feel bad for the big bird however. If i had the coin, it would be nice to try and save a plane with that kind of spirit.
Report Post »AyaTolla U
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 8:47pmby that reasoning the 747 next to it that still has engines should be doing the same thing.
Report Post »styxman65
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:46amits a little sad in a way, looks like the plane is trying to get away from the bone yard. It wants to be free and fly away.
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:45amso parking or stopping at washington dc is now going to be dangerous,what with all the hot air that blows around there………..
Report Post »standuppeople
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:38am“All of the above” energy plan?
Report Post »