CptSpeaking From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 639 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (6 years 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 2646 times:
Absolutely! If the groundspeed were to be zero, you would have to be directly into the wind and have your airspeed equal to the wind velocity. I've had 152s going backwards over the ground on several occasions because the wind was faster than we were flying...very strange feeling! This would be the case with your example..you would be going 1 knot in the opposite direction.
Leads to an interesting story...when I was getting my instrument rating, we had a day where there were 60 kt winds at 3000 feet. The lesson that day was holding. So, we decided to try to get a response from Approach Control, and on the outbound leg, we go tour groundspeed down to 15 kts (in IMC, so we didn't really want to push it further, plus, the point was to actually get outbound, not hover ), kept this for several minutes, then coming inbound we firewalled the throttle and got up to 172kts groundspeed. We were at the fix in right about a minute, but our outbound was sooooooo long!
Pilotaydin From Turkey, joined Sep 2004, 2498 posts, RR: 50 Reply 2, posted (6 years 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 2645 times:
dude, you can fly backwards, i love doing it, pop flaps 40 on the a 172 and find a mega headwind in slow flight, fun as hell great for showing students ICET - indicated, calibrated, Equiv and true as well as ground speed
The only time there is too much fuel onboard, is when you're on fire!
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 4, posted (6 years 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 2618 times:
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Quoting IAHFLYR (Reply 3): Many times it is quicker to take Greyhound as they would be going faster than the 30 kts, or less you see on the ground speed!
Indeed. I flew a 150 from Mississippi to Michigan into headwinds for most of the trip, and watched interstate traffic pass me for hours and hours.
I've also raced Dodge Vipers around Chrysler's test track near Chelsea, Michigan, and lost miserably.
WrenchBender From Canada, joined Feb 2004, 1779 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (6 years 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 2598 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 4): Indeed. I flew a 150 from Mississippi to Michigan into headwinds for most of the trip, and watched interstate traffic pass me for hours and hours.
I've seen that in a Twin Otter, YWG to YOD had to stop for gas in YXE because of the head winds.
IAHFLYR From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 4717 posts, RR: 26 Reply 6, posted (6 years 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 2579 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 4): I've also raced Dodge Vipers around Chrysler's test track near Chelsea, Michigan, and lost miserably.
I haven't tried that yet but if I ever find a day when some testing/racing is going on at the College Station Speedway, if ever again, ( ) I'm gonna try that.....only I hope it is a hybrid so I might have a change of winning.
Any views shared are strictly my own and do not a represent those of any former employer.
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (6 years 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 2554 times:
Its fun...though passengers don't seem to like the idea of "flying backwards." As a matter of fact, I have talked to ATC'ers who say when they see our target flying backwards, they start to worry.
I have been told by ATC before that when a rinkey-dink C172(R) is on final at 65KIAS, and there is an F-16 on an extended final at like, 400kts, it seems as if the C172 is flying backwards.
Futurecaptain From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 2531 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 4): I flew a 150 from Mississippi to Michigan into headwinds for most of the trip, and watched interstate traffic pass me for hours and hours.
Times like these you need to take a twin for your trip.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 9, posted (6 years 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 2515 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Quoting IAHFLYR (Reply 6): I haven't tried that yet but if I ever find a day when some testing/racing is going on at the College Station Speedway
The nice thing about doing it at College Station Speedway is you won't have to worry about a team of laywers accusing you of flying low in an attempt to spy and gather intelligence.
Quoting Futurecaptain (Reply 8): Times like these you need to take a twin for your trip.
ZBBYLW From Canada, joined Nov 2006, 1922 posts, RR: 7 Reply 11, posted (6 years 3 days ago) and read 2478 times:
Quoting CptSpeaking (Reply 1): I've had 152s going backwards over the ground on several occasions because the wind was faster than we were flying...very strange feeling!
HAHA yea I have done it as well 10 kts backwards actually! Also kept it at Zero for a while... REALLY WEIRD.. the coolest thing though was 15 kts GS while landing now that was cool! Ahhh you gotta love GPS
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 4): 've also raced Dodge Vipers around Chrysler's test track near Chelsea, Michigan, and lost miserably.
I have also raced some cars just outside of YLW there is a drag strip and some cars where screwing around there (looked like they broke in, its in the middle of nowhere) and I just did low and overs over them and they tried to race me... I was in a 152 and well... anyways it was fun...
Pope From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2322 times:
I never flew backwards in a Cessna but once cars in a school zone were passing me as I was on short final for Rwy 06 at KGNV. That's when I knew I was done with my touch and goes for the day.
Jerald01 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 161 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (6 years 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2313 times:
I know of a flight instructor who used to win bets with his students by telling them he could take off, fly a complete traffic pattern and then land the airplane... all without ever changing his heading.
All it takes is a very, very slow airplane, a windy day, and some judicious use of rudder and power.
"There may be old pilots, and there may be bold pilots, but there are darn few green cows"
LAXspotter From India, joined Jan 2007, 3650 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (6 years 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2282 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 4): Indeed. I flew a 150 from Mississippi to Michigan into headwinds for most of the trip, and watched interstate traffic pass me for hours and hours.
LOL, that must be an amazing feeling.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" Samuel Johnson
N215AZ From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 77 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (6 years 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2234 times:
Quoting N231YE (Reply 7): Its fun...though passengers don't seem to like the idea of "flying backwards." As a matter of fact, I have talked to ATC'ers who say when they see our target flying backwards, they start to worry.
Yeah, My parents do not like me talking about the negative GS indicated on the GPS, but I love it! Watching the fields and roads and houses come from behind. Kinda weird at first, but lots of fun otherwise.
Quoting N231YE (Reply 7): I have been told by ATC before that when a rinkey-dink C172(R) is on final at 65KIAS, and there is an F-16 on an extended final at like, 400kts, it seems as if the C172 is flying backwards.
I feel like I have heard that before, from the same controller too
P.S. N231YE, how's life treating you lately?
"Atra esterní ono thelduin, Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, Un du evarínya ono varda."
At the time, it was maddening....I just wanted to get home!
Some more interesting uses of slow/zero groundspeeds over the years have been:
- Hanging in place while watching fourth of July fireworks (from a safe distance)
- Viewing Christmas light displays without paying for the entry fee
- Checking out my house, waving to my family, and seeing my dog's tail wag from 1000-1500 feet up
It does, actually. KOEB (Coldwater, MI) has a drive-in immediately adjacent to the airport. In fact, if you choose to divert your attention from the approach and landing, you can watch the movie during final:
You can see the big parking lot under the word "Batavia", and the movie screen just above and to the right.
The best part? The audio is broadcast on an AM frequency, so you can put the ADF to use and tune in.
Not that I've done this, of course. I've just heard about it.
I want to have a ZERO groundspeed to go through the IN-N-OUT drive-in at near LAX just off the 24 complex....awesome spotting from a C150 getting a burger!
Any views shared are strictly my own and do not a represent those of any former employer.
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From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 3390 posts, 
), kept this for several minutes, then coming inbound we firewalled the throttle and got up to 172kts groundspeed. We were at the fix in right about a minute, but our outbound was sooooooo long!
From Turkey, joined Sep 2004, 2498 posts, 
From Canada, joined Feb 2004, 1779 posts, 
) I'm gonna try that.....only I hope it is a hybrid so I might have a change of winning.
From India, joined Jan 2007, 3650 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2315 posts, 
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