"Interesting" wind yesterday

As many may know, we set records here in Iowa yesterday, hitting 73 degrees
in Iowa City. It felt great!

The winds in the afternoon started to kick up pretty good, as a cold front
approached from the northwest. On our way back from brunch in Lone Rock, WI
(where we ran into this group's own Jim Burns, figuratively speaking. We
actually passed on the taxiway...) the wind was humming along at about 40
knots, right on the nose. It was smooth at 6500 feet, though, so Mary and
the kids were content to nap all the way home.

Iowa City AWOS was reporting 20 gusts to 26, but right down Rwy 25. As I
entered the pattern, however, it became very apparent that the winds at
pattern altitude were markedly different from the reported surface winds,
with a very strong southerly component that was pushing me in too close on
downwind.

As I turned from base to final, the unexpectedly strong wind had me bent out
of shape pretty good, but I managed to wrestle the runway back into
alignment without entering the coffin-corner of cross controlling.
Nevertheless, I was amazed to find that it was taking full left aileron and
right rudder to keep the runway in the windshield. This wind was clearly
NOT down the runway.

Asking Mary to get AWOS for me, the mechanical man was still reporting winds
at 240 -- perfect for Rwy 25. As I cursed the stupid AWOS equipment --
which was clearly malfunctioning (or so I thought) -- I told the kids to
hang on for a wild ride.

They weren't disappointed. On short final, it felt as if someone had kicked
up on the left wing from below with all their might, and we banked hard
(toward our hotel!) away from the runway. We were low, and slow, and things
didn't look good, but just as quickly as you can say it, I was able to right
us, and the wind was suddenly and instantly right down the runway.

Surprisingly, despite the wild approach, I continued my unexplained streak
of perfect landings, causing nary a squeak. Only difference was, this time
I was slightly out of breath, and I had a death-grip on the yoke... ;-)

Talk about wind shear. There was a nearly 90 degree difference in the wind
direction at MAYBE 500 feet (or less) off the ground. And both wind
"streams" were whistling right along, too.

Now today it's 35 degrees, and dropping like a stone -- with winds of well
over 30 knots.

Gotta love the Midwest in late winter!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"