TM 55-1510-215-10
f. During Flight.
No special technique
or
constant power settings are vital to proper flight
technique. Establish recommended penetration speed
procedures are required during normal operations.
and proper attitude prior to entering turbulent air.
g. Descent. No special technique or procedures
Maintaining a pre-established attitude will result in a
fairly constant airspeed.
Complete the following
are required during descent.
procedures when there is a possibility of encountering
h. Landing. No special technique or procedures
turbulent air due to thunderstorm activity.
are required during landing.
1. Establish penetration airspeed.
i. Engine Shutdown.
Refer to Section II for
2. Secure loose equipment.
ENGINE SHUTDOWN procedure.
3. No smoking.
CAUTION
4. Tighten
seat
belts
and
shoulder
harnesses.
If fuel tanks are completely filled, fuel
5. Turn cockpit and cabin lights on to
expansion may cause overflow,
minimize the blinding effect of lightning.
thereby creating a fire hazard.
6. Turn on pitot heat and stall warning heat
j. Before Leaving the Aircraft. Install wheel chocks
when visible moisture is encountered.
and release the wheel brakes to prevent warpage of the
brake discs.
Leave windows and doors open as
7. Check
flight
instruments
for
proper
necessary for ventilation.
indication.
8-48. Turbulent Air and Thunderstorms.
8. Advise crew members of approach to
storm.
WARNING
9. Maintain constant power settings and
pitch attitude regardless of airspeed or altitude
indications. Concentrate of maintaining a level attitude.
Due to the comparatively light wing
loading, control in severe turbulence
NOTE
and moderately heavy thunderstorms
is critical. Since turbulence imposes
If possible, adjust to the desired
heavy loads on the aircraft structure
power setting prior to entering a
make all necessary changes in
storm area. Generally, this power
aircraft attitude with the minimum
setting will be lower than that used
amount of control pressures to avoid
for cruise operations.
excessive loads on the aircraft's
structure.
10. Maintain original heading. Make no turns
unless absolutely necessary.
Plan the flight to avoid areas of severe turbulence
and thunderstorms. During night or instrument flight
11. Do not chase the airspeed indicator; doing
conditions it is not always possible to detect individual
so will only result in extreme variations of aircraft attitude
storm areas or find the in-between clear areas. If such
and the possibility of exceeding safe airspeed.
turbulence is to be penetrated, it will be necessary to
counter rapid changes in attitude and accept major
12. Apply as little pressure as possible on the
indicated altitude variations.
control surfaces to prevent excessive strains on the
aircraft structure.
8-49. Penetration.
13. Erratic
altimeter
indications
may
be
The maximum safe penetration speed in severe
expected.
turbulence is 169 KCAS (168 KIAS). Pitch attitude and
Change 8 8-27
