Strike Finder use

[MooneyBob]

I really like the CGR-30P Premium to use in my panel and replace bunch of old instruments as it can be a primary. It would fit perfectly in my current strike finder hole. The strike finder doesn't work right now. It's popping the fuse out every time. I believe it could be repaired easily. But my question is:

Does anybody use it anymore with the all the on board weather capabilities today ? Is it great in finding of embedded T-storms? I am not Instrument rated yet so I don't fly in this kind of weather now. I am working on my IR. Should I keep it or is it obsolete?

Thanks?

[Oscar Avalle]

Storm scopes and strike finder are tactical instruments, while NEXRAD is more a strategic tool that helps you think ahead of how to manage your flight. So both system complement each other very well.

[Rwsavory]

I use it to confirm and supplement NEXRAD.  I would suggest that you keep it.  It's one more way to assure that you keep away from thunderstorms.    

[Bob_Belville]

A stornscope allows an IFR pilot to safely navigate through clouds and precip where NEXRAD is little help. I have both but I trust the Stormscope more.  

[carusoam]

See what the cost of getting it working is. Expect that it takes some practice to use it well.

+1 SkyRadar and StrikeFinder to avoid thunderstorms.

WeatherTAP on the web while on the ground.

Also compare JPI, StrikeFinder and EI. All three have nice instruments that are competing.

Best regards,

-a-

[WardHolbrook]

Storm scopes and strike finder are tactical instruments, while NEXRAD is more a strategic tool that helps you think ahead of how to manage your flight. So both system complement each other very well.

 

No more calls folks, we have a winner! But I'll change the strategy to use the sferics detectors strategically as well - just because they often don't have the short-range resolution that "current" radar has when you're dodging and weaving through a line of thunderstiorms.    

 

XM weather is handy and we've got it on our company's corporate jets, but the problem with it is that the information can become "stale" when things are really popping. Personally, I use sferics detectors (Stormscopes, Strike Finders, LSS, etc.) to decide which areas I want to circumnavigate and weather radar, because of its greater resolution, to do the circumnavigation. Weather radar essentially only shows two things - water and dirt and not all rainfall is associated with convective turbulence. Lacking airborne weather radar, XM weather is your next best option, but you have to recognize its limitations. All three of these tools - airborne weather radar, sferics detectors and XM weather - have three separate, but complimentary, uses.  

[Mooneymite]

Spherics answers the question, "Is there lightning in this cloud right now?"

XM and ADS-B WX can't.

Keep the stormscope.

[MooneyBob]

Thanks for the advices. I will keep it.

[201er]

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/10009-lesson-in-thunderstorm-avoidance/

[MooneyBob]

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/10009-lesson-in-thunderstorm-avoidance/

Very nice. That's how they should teach us about weather. Thanks.

[PTK]

One thing developing thunderstorms (cumulus stage) always contain is cloud to cloud lightning. The one thing they usually lack is precipitation.

The storm-scope will detect these electric discharges where datalink wx won't. Datalink wx will not detect it if no precip.

I'd keep the storm-scope Bob. Real time lightning info is a beautiful thing.

[Earl]

Very nice. That's how they should teach us about weather. Thanks.

What I like about the video is it shows the best possible t-storm avoidance tool, the eyes.  Even with XM and stormscope I try to stay visual if at all possible when convective activity is around.  If not, my margin around them becomes even higher than 20-25nm.  I always prefer the electronics to confirm what I am seeing.  Being in IMC with embedded t-storms is a recipe for potential disaster.  

[John Pleisse]

I have kept mine...works great....very reliable...

[MooneyBob]

Thanks

[RobertE]

One thing developing thunderstorms (cumulus stage) always contain is cloud to cloud lightning. The one thing they usually lack is precipitation.

The storm-scope will detect these electric discharges where datalink wx won't. Datalink wx will not detect it if no precip.

I'd keep the storm-scope Bob. Real time lightning info is a beautiful thing.

Is it true that datalink wx won't show anything unless there is actual rainfall?  I sure see a lot of green on mine in areas in which there seems neither to be virga or rainfall reaching the ground.  I figured a green radar return meant there was sufficient moisture in the cloud to produce a return but, possibly, less moisture than needed to produce rain at that moment.  No?

[kortopates]

Correct, it doesn't have to be hitting the ground. Keep in mind what we see on the display is a composite of multiple radar cuts at different angles. The preciptable moisture reflecting the radar could be any altitude and could be virga as you suggested. Second point, what products you get depends on your data plan and lightning strikes is certainly an option. However satellite wx only includes ground strikes showing a mature TRS unlike our onboard spherics devices that include cloud to cloud showing a developing TRS and even convective turbulence before lightning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk