Whirlwind at TEMAC

[gmcnic]

 
Ever wonder why all the lawn chairs are sometimes scattered over the pit area?
This afternoon, Ken C. and I witnessed the whirlwind phenomena.

Winds were calm when I arrived as Ken was just winning another 1-man piker class race.
I had set my Apprentice fuse on the ground and the wing on the table at the south end.
Winds were calm and I had just finished a flight with my micro Icon.
While chatting with Ken at the pilot station, it happened.

It started just around the loo and moved towards the pit area.
My Apprentice wing rose some 40 feet up, the micro Icon box was ripped open and contents thrown around except 2 pieces of retaining foam which took flight.

The whirlwind moved north through the pit area knocking over every single lawn chair.
It then headed over the north end of the parking lot (with my retaining foam) then up the drive swirling dust upwards along its way.

Apprentice wing took a ding, Icon box got ripped and only missing 1 of the retaining foam pieces which journeyed off somewhere over the garden centre.
And I thought it was only the beans...

[Oscar]

Wow! 

[piker]

That's cool.  Must have been a serious thermal.