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I'm a Believer... Not a Monkey's Song

Marauder

By Marauder
in Avionics/Panel Discussion

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Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

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Posted

For years I owned a WX-8 StormScope and got accustomed to deviating around weather by a fair margin. Why? Because as far as weather depiction goes, the WX-8 is one step up from a caveman starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together. It was fine for a "don't go there" analysis. But between radial spread and the block diagrams, it was difficult to try to figure out exactly how wide an area of convective activity existed.

I just picked up my Mooney tonight and got a firsthand view of the power of today's spheric detection equipment. The unit I installed was a pre-owned WX-500 unit sold to me by AeroDon (thanks Don!). It is interfaced with both my Aspen MFD and GTN unit. All I can say is WOW! Hats off to the folks at Agape Avionics. Works as advertised and more.

The storm front moving in is still a bit out, but this is the storm the WX-500 is seeing:

ed990d63872b78cc63b89620196e55d8.jpg

The Aspen depicting the StormScope page full screen:

b289ec3eed018dd479f1c52292ac1a7f.jpg

The GTN showing the approaching storm:
353c791af57c002adbefb7981a8654be.jpg


The Aspen in split screen mode showing the convective activity and the navigation page (I turned the airplane to confirm the heading mode was working):

470b9a12bab72303b1aa9b89ba1b1cd3.jpg


So, now for the questions! You didn't think you would get off that easy? Either that or you were expecting Marauder to show off one of his prize catches?

For those of you familiar with the WX-500, Aspens and GTN; what does the XRATE on the Aspen mean? How about the "Cell" rate on the GTN? I also suspect there is some logic that applied to whether something is classified as a "strike" versus a "cell". What is the definition?

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Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

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Did you mount the antenna(s?) in the same place as the WX-8 antenna, or is it completely different?

Completely different. I was surprised that it needed to be mounted in a different location. Interestingly, my Whelen strobe beacon was the biggest culprit for the relocation.

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Piloto Grand Master

Piloto

Posted
Posted

Marauder

 

I noticed that your Stormscope shows the lightning closer than your leg end wpt. I had similar indications on my WX-10. This forced me to deviate for weather that was actually farther away than my destination. The range uncertainty increases with distance exponentially in a similar way as judging visually an object distance by it brightness at long distances. To overcome unnecessary deviations. I set the WX-10 range scale to the next closer range to improve on range accuracy.

 

BTW the XRATE means weather not suitable for passengers.

 

José    

carqwik Experienced

carqwik

Posted
Posted

It's The Monkees as the name of the group...

 

Here's how I interpret my WX950....

 

Strike Mode is sort of raw data as to where electrical discharges are occurring but is subject to radial spread.  Basically, it's good for showing how fast as storm may be developing and general direction towards the storm.  interestingly, when strikes develop slowly, it may not necessarily be a storm itself but indicative of some cloud activity generating electricity.  I've seen strikes shown from alto cumulus "puffies" which I was overflying the tops at 15,000 feet...definitely not t-storms but they did generate onesies-twosies strikes on the WX-950 display.

 

When strikes are accumulating rapidly...even after "clearing" the display...then you've got a storm brewing or developed although some radial spread will show up.  At that point, I switch to "cell" mode which then filters the data through its software and generally gives a more compact indication of bearing and distance as well as size of a storm. 

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Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

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Marauder

I noticed that your Stormscope shows the lightning closer than your leg end wpt. I had similar indications on my WX-10. This forced me to deviate for weather that was actually farther away than my destination. The range uncertainty increases with distance exponentially in a similar way as judging visually an object distance by it brightness at long distances. To overcome unnecessary deviations. I set the WX-10 range scale to the next closer range to improve on range accuracy.

BTW the XRATE means weather not suitable for passengers.

José

It will take me some time to get a feel for the unit. I took another look at the pictures I posted. That picture showing the NextRad was taken at 00:20Z. Just as I finished fueling up and headed back to the hangars.

This picture was taken right after I landed:

957d13a294be90d649d3d33a174840f8.jpg

Since the StormScope is heading synchronized, I wonder if what I am seeing is really the stuff a bit south of the heavy activity. The pictures were taken on the taxiway pointed towards 240°.

Either way, at the 200 nm range, it certainly picked up stuff and on the ground. Will report back when I get more time with it.

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Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

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It's The Monkees as the name of the group...

Here's how I interpret my WX950....

Strike Mode is sort of raw data as to where electrical discharges are occurring but is subject to radial spread. Basically, it's good for showing how fast as storm may be developing and general direction towards the storm. interestingly, when strikes develop slowly, it may not necessarily be a storm itself but indicative of some cloud activity generating electricity. I've seen strikes shown from alto cumulus "puffies" which I was overflying the tops at 15,000 feet...definitely not t-storms but they did generate onesies-twosies strikes on the WX-950 display.

When strikes are accumulating rapidly...even after "clearing" the display...then you've got a storm brewing or developed although some radial spread will show up. At that point, I switch to "cell" mode which then filters the data through its software and generally gives a more compact indication of bearing and distance as well as size of a storm.

Thanks for the explanation. I know on the WX-8 that I would see radial spread often before I could pinpoint the actual storm. The row of blocks would all light up and then when the storm intensifies enough one of the blocks would begin to blink.

I have also gotten a block to light up on the WX-8 on days where storms had not yet hit but were building.

BTW - all that trademark talk on the other thread got me worried if I used the real Monkee's name in the thread topic title, someone would send me a royalty bill... :)

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Danb Grand Master

Danb

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Posted

For most of us I guess the xrates is lightning strikes per minute but in Chris's case it's most likes static electrical signals from chaffing thighs rubbing together the rate shown should make him run while he can..

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Hank Grand Master

Hank

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Gary..is there something your holding back...

Doesn't look like he's holding ANYthing back to me . . . Nor is she, it's just propped up on the fence post . . . .

Hank Grand Master

Hank

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Gentlemen,

 

I've been on this board for a long, long time, but I still don't get it. What is it with Marauder's fat chicks? Please elaborate.

Dear,sweet Jesus, please DON'T!! I can't handle any more pictures . . .

Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

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Gentlemen,

I've been on this board for a long, long time, but I still don't get it. What is it with Marauder's fat chicks? Please elaborate.

I have no clue! One day I'm helping a Mooney owner troubleshoot a problem and the next day I'm the resident expert on tonnage...

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AndyFromCB Veteran

AndyFromCB

Posted
Posted

When the screen looks like this, land.attachicon.gifimage.jpg

 

Or don't take off. This is where stormscope really rocks. It actually works very well on the ground. You can pretty quickly tell how bumpy the climb thru the clouds will be before anything shows up on XM. Saved my bacon once. Nothing on XM, the bases don't look too scary, but they were solid. On taxi my stormscope starts going off, next 10 minutes all hell breaks lose.

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PaulB Community Regular

PaulB

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Posted

I've never flown with any sort of lightning detecting technology in the cockpit. Do you guys use it to fly through any precipitation that doesn't have lightning?

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

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the real value in these things is the ability to navigate moderate precipitation without getting turbulence.  As the story goes, no lightning, smooth ride. But even one strike means it can get exciting. The other benefit is avoiding embedded thunderstorms. For the really big ones I stay visual and avoid them, or land. When it gets thick theres so much activity on the screen its nearly useless.  That earlier pic I posted was 30 seconds of strikes.

 

   heres a good article   http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/1997/June/1/Spark-Detectors

fantom Grand Master

fantom

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Gary..is there something your holding back...

 

Compared to the women Chris seems to favor, the girl I posted is downright skinny.  :P

 

When they walk, they show up on my stormscope.

  • 2 weeks later...
jbs007 Collaborator

jbs007

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I looked in Marauders gallery for real evidence of this fetish.  My slow gov internet wouldn't download the pictures, but I was able to read a few incriminating captions such as "from behind", "1 moment of panic" and my favorite, the "4 second phase".

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