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Where should a pilot fly to avoid the wake turbulence created by wing-tip vortices?

User TDsouza
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Final answer:

To avoid wake turbulence, a pilot should fly above and upwind of the aircraft that created it.

Step-by-step explanation:

Option 2: To avoid wake turbulence created by wing-tip vortices, a pilot should fly above and upwind of the aircraft that created the turbulence.

Wing-tip vortices are created when high-pressure air below the wings flows towards the low-pressure air above the wings, resulting in strong swirling currents. These vortices can be hazardous for other aircraft flying behind and below.

By flying above and upwind of the aircraft that created the turbulence, the pilot can avoid the turbulent wake and reduce the risk of encountering the vortices. This ensures the safety of the pilot and passengers on board.

The correct answer to the question of where a pilot should fly to avoid the wake turbulence created by wing-tip vortices is that pilots should fly at a higher altitude than the flight path of the preceding aircraft when they are in the vicinity of large airplanes to avoid the turbulence caused by their wing-tip vortices.

Since these vortices tend to sink and spread outward from the path of the aircraft that created them, staying above the flight path of a large jet ensures avoiding this type of turbulence.

Additionally, it is preferable for airplanes to take off into the wind rather than with the wind. The reason is that flying into the wind increases the airspeed over the wings at a given ground speed, which enhances the lift and allows for a shorter takeoff roll and better climb performance.

Hence, by taking off into the wind, the aircraft can stay well above and clear of the turbulent wake of preceding airplanes.

User Eric Coleman
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