This was a recent visual approach into John Wayne airport in Southern CA (KSNA). Santa Ana winds were blowing, however, they had just switched back to RWY 19. We descended low over the hills just to the north east and encountered Mod+ turbulence. It was jarring, but not much roll as we were going with the wind.

Watch the back up airspeed indicator (below the G600 in the middle) from around :30 on. At some point I had to reach for the gear to help slow down. I did not notice the wild airspeed fluctuations until I watched the video back. They are not as obvious on the glass panel, and I was just working to get us slowed down and keep us level. And no.....I didn't spill my coffee

This video also gives you a good idea of how SVT looks around terrain and approaching a runway for landing. Turn to final around the 3:00 mark.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/0kBFxe_LmlE[/youtube]

No link.

See OP

Jesse, I love the sound of those 421 engines!

Turbulence or not I see you didn't spill a drop of that coffee.

Nice plane Jesse

Jesse,

Which autopilot were you using?

Tom

Very smooth landing.

Cessna 800B, however, I was hand flying once the turbulence started.

Hand flying?

That makes the approach even better.



Tom

Tom,


Thanks, however, the 421 is a very stable machine and makes you look good. Believe it or not, that was some of the most violent turbulence I have encountered so far in the 421 (and I'm based in the Southwest). It does not show up well in the video (other than the ASI) but if I had been in my Bo we all might have been wearing that coffee.

Best,

excellent video..

Jesse, may I ask…?

it is clearly visible on that approach, that when it gets a bit turbulent…is it difficult in your opinion or very distracting on those new touchscreen radios, especially when they are mounted in the vertical, to change frequencies..?

sometimes I've got the feeling that an old fashioned turning knob on which your hand can rest could be preferable under such circumstances…however, I know everything goes direction touch screens..

That was a nice landing Jesse, and I take your point that the video did perhaps not convey how rock and roll a ride it was.

I came out of Donegal on the West Coast of Ireland, Monday, 32kts gusting 45kts, and that coast is rugged with hills and valleys opening up onto the cliffs and coastal plain.

It was a very wild ride, and I had to bring RPM back a long way to keep her slowed down. I was getting roll, and up/down draft, and it was not my most comfortable flight!!! To say the least.

The bizarre thing for me was when I landed at Derry, it was 10kts, down the runway, and yet the flow at 2k was 45kts. I told the guys on the ground what I had just experienced, and they just looked at me, in that strange way

Nice Job Jesse. You did the right thing. Slow down, gear down, autopilot off. The big Garmin display is a huge advantage, especially if you would have been in IMC.

I have panel envy!

Robert

+1