Caution! Wake Turbulence.

On a recent trip to Philadelphia International (PHL), my friend Andrew (demar727 on Youtube) said that you'd be able to hear the wingtip vortex as the planes landed overhead. For those who don't know, a wingtip vortex is a horizontal tornado of spinning air that results when a wing creates lift. I apologize for some of the fast pans but it was hard to figure out which way to point the mic since sometimes the sound came from all around, while other times it sounded like gunshots. Perhaps the most sobering display was seeing a metal light pole rock back and forth as a vortex descended on top of it. If one were in another airplane and accidentally ran into one, it would not be a pleasant ride. Now you know why tower will warn, "Caution, wake turbulence."

PS: Hopefully on a rainy day I will be able to record what they look like also, as they can be seen when there is lots of moisture in the air.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• vortex
• wake
• turbulence
• philadelphia
• airliners
• CRJ
• 737

[ontariotimothy]

My farts leave pretty big vortexes.

[monkeysnatch1]

No problem! ......man i sound like such a nerd!

[327409427]

It's true. You can really them...they're like hearing a whip crack...at John Wayne Airport.

[av8orguy]

OK



[flugverrueckt]

wow the last one was... (:O!!!

[DeltaAirtran]

I here that vortex sound at Bradley Airport a lot! I always think it's the turbulence.......

[usivio980]

phantom jet......



[TheGoodShepherd2325]

Great sound capture :D

[griffy1988]

is this some kind of weird fetish, listening to a vortex 

[ballickmoyler]

wtf is this video about. i must be missing something. hopefully not something that could make me more sucessful with women.

[mathfreak123]

So that's what a vortex sounds like. I didn't realize they had sounds.

Pretty cool. :D