[ASAP]

2 things -

1) There is a very strong reason why the captain always asks that you keep your seat belt on at all times.

2) I am a recreational pilot so that may make a difference with regards to my tolerance but as long as the wings are still attached I have 0 concerns. If you've ever seen an airplane wing test live, you've seen it all.

[Alfisti]

I fly a lot, well a long way a lot of the time, like 20+ hrs. Turbulance can be annoying on a long flight as you can't relax, go tot he loo or stretch your legs. But it's fine, what I fear is a pocket, nevr encountered one but every so often you hear about it where all is good then WHAM everyone hits the ceiling. Traveling with kids who FINALLY fall asleep but their belt is not right, you are dead set walking on egg shells to find a way to do it up "just in case".

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by ASAP

2 things -

1) There is a very strong reason why the captain always asks that you keep your seat belt on at all times.

2) I am a recreational pilot so that may make a difference with regards to my tolerance but as long as the wings are still attached I have 0 concerns. If you've ever seen an airplane wing test live, you've seen it all.

Seems like most of the recent natural major plane disasters have pretty much been all pilot error or sabotage. Is that a fair statement?

[NYG]

No but it probably helps that I'm a structural engineer. Those wings/airframe can handle a lot more than even the worst kind of turbulence.

[ezaircon4jc]

When I worked in the tower, I always enjoyed seeing the wings take the load when a heavy-jet got airborne.

[erickonphoenix]

I like a little chop during flight so I feel like I'm moving. But the turbulence where they shut the bar cart down is probably my worst fear.

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Depends on your definition of turbulence. Microbursts are a form of turbulence and have caused crashes. Clear air turbulence would have to be extremely severe to breakup modern aircraft.

Slight correction: microbursts are a form of windshear which may (probably will) create turbulence.

The windshear creates the turbulence. The turbulence does not create the windshear.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by NYG

No but it probably helps that I'm a structural engineer. Those wings/airframe can handle a lot more than even the worst kind of turbulence.

Yes, but over how many repeated flex cycles before they snap from fatigue? Thinking cabin wall blowing out in that plane over Hawaii many years ago, that was exposed to a unusually high number of pressurization cycles because it was flying short routes between islands.....

[NYG]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Yes, but over how many repeated flex cycles before they snap from fatigue? Thinking cabin wall blowing out in that plane over Hawaii many years ago, that was exposed to a unusually high number of pressurization cycles because it was flying short routes between islands.....

Huge design consideration for constant and variable amplitude cyclical loading on airframes/wings has been around since WW2.

Components are inspected for crack propagation and "sag" which would indicate fatigue but they are designed to have a service life with a significant safety factor. There are also redundancies in the load paths so there are alternate load paths available at connection points if one were to give out. Remember metals are typically ductile materials and give you EXCESSIVE warning before failure - it's part of their beauty. Fatigue is a major design concern because cyclical loading can induce brittle failures like it was unreinforced concrete or glass.

I'm not an aerospace engineer so I can't tell you exactly what the component names are but inside of every wing will be a frame with components to take in and out of plane rotation along with shear. It's not just one solid piece.

[GERMAN M3]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I would shit my pants lol. I am usually ok with turbulence and actually find it comforting sometimes, but it's pretty scary when traveling with a kid that's always not fastened

Yeah that was pretty intense. I’ve traveled quite a bit, and have experienced some wild turbulence, but nothing to that extent.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Yes, but over how many repeated flex cycles before they snap from fatigue? Thinking cabin wall blowing out in that plane over Hawaii many years ago, that was exposed to a unusually high number of pressurization cycles because it was flying short routes between islands.....

There's a good movie about that. The aircraft in question is fictitious (a Reindeer), but the science behind the structural fatigue/failure is quite interesting. The movie is "No Highway in The Sky."

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I fly a lot, well a long way a lot of the time, like 20+ hrs. Turbulance can be annoying on a long flight as you can't relax, go tot he loo or stretch your legs. But it's fine, what I fear is a pocket, nevr encountered one but every so often you hear about it where all is good then WHAM everyone hits the ceiling. Traveling with kids who FINALLY fall asleep but their belt is not right, you are dead set walking on egg shells to find a way to do it up "just in case".

I don’t know how you do it. My limit is 5 hours. Florida or NJ to Vegas is about my tolerance. We did 9 to Europe but I was way younger, much more excited to travel and about 20 pounds lighter too

[br438]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Airplane turbulence has never crashed a plane. Just remember that the next time it's bad.

... never crashed a large, commercial airliner. Turbulence has brought down plenty of private aircraft over the years - including the one piloted by Scott Crossfield - an absolute legend of a test pilot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Scott_Crossfield


I fly quite a bit. - enough to make mid to high status on 1 or more airlines every year. I try to manage my drink and keep belted. If it is a partly cloudy day in the summer, I usually walk (to the restroom) with both hands up on the ceiling.

No self-talk needed. If the turbulence is bad enough to break up an airliner, well... nothing I can do about it. Pilots and ATC are more informed about weather, updrafts, and turbulence than ever before. If you ever hit a surprise pocket, those in the seat will be shaken, but fine - you really just have to be ready to assist anyone that was not seated. It can be ugly.

[floridaorange]

Solid info thanks to all who posted

Lots of random musings answered finally!

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by damianwo

I fly on average twice a month to Europe. My wife checks the “turbuly” app every time we hop on a plane because she’s a chicken when it comes to rough air.

The best way to deal with turbulence on commercial flights might be to have another drink.

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Light aircraft, such as a Bonanza, can get bounced around quite a bit, even in moderate turbulence.

As with any aircraft, big or small, the key is for the pilot to slow the airplane to its maneuvering speed (slower than cruise speed). Once at maneuvering speed (it's in the POH), the airplane will still get bounced around, but not enough to cause structural failure. Worst case is the pilot might have to pass out barf bags.

Easy for you to say bro. That's why they make anti anxiety meds and booze

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Yes, but over how many repeated flex cycles before they snap from fatigue? Thinking cabin wall blowing out in that plane over Hawaii many years ago, that was exposed to a unusually high number of pressurization cycles because it was flying short routes between islands.....

... and salt air.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

Easy for you to say bro. That's why they make anti anxiety meds and booze

Perhaps the best way to relax is to get your private pilot license.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I'm 51.

I've never been on a plane.

Very soon now I'll be riding in a SMALL plane, which will be landing in Katy, TX, which I'm told is known to have massive heat variations upon descent that cause small planes to experience weirdness/turbulence.

Not looking forward to it.

Whoa, talk about trial by fire

Reminds me of when I was a kid, my folks booked some cheapX flight coming back from HK to Toronto which had a connecting flight in NYC(!), what kind of bs what that?! LOL. Anyway, so I'm getting off the comfy 747 or whatever in NYC and was shocked that I had to go OUTSIDE onto the tarmac to board the 2nd plane...imagine going from a Boeing airliner to a freaking, what, 20-seater bi-propeller plane? The cockpit door was left open and I could almost stretch my arm and touch the pilots....I don't even know why they bothered having a stewardess....it was insane lmao, but the crampedness wasn't the worst part. Now, I dunno what plane you're getting onto and I'm pretty it's going be better, but MAN, I never experienced worse turbulence, the freaking thing was shaking so badly I thought it was gonna break, and I'm a damn cyborg when it comes to these things - I was wondering if the thing's gonna go down at some pt. When I got back, I freaking yell (ok, mildly complained lol) at my folks for putting me through that crap. NEVER AGAIN!!

Anyway, hope you have a good flight.

[NealfromNZ]

Used to fly for work on a regular basis. Live in a windy city and the local airport supports only up to mid size jets.

It's the aborted landing attempts that get me. Typically we get about 20 mins warning before bumpy landings. Basically everyone is strapped including cabin crew as the plane starts bouncing around. Tray tables are upright and anything bigger that a phone gets put away.

Struck a run of bad weather a while back. One of the landing attempts was bumpy as , plane ( 737 or airbus equiv ) moving around heaps with wind gusts getting towards 75 mph. Got to see the airport approach out the side windows a few times. Plane is about 30 feet of the tarmac and gets massive wind shear and drops to much forward momentum. Passengers are silent and hanging on. Pilot then puts plane in full power and gains speed then into a steep climb. We go around again and 15 mins later land on a bumpy second attempt. Certainly felt like a stiff drink after that one as did others.

But just a factor of where I live. Don't like it , but then can't do anything about it.

[Dang3r]

I like to travel in uniform and sitting sometimes next to slight scary-before-flight persons and they obviously calm down, when a pilot takes a seat next to them - as long as I unbox my extra big "air disaster" picture book, which is always into my case

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

The best way to deal with turbulence on commercial flights might be to have another drink.

...like the pilots do?????