Page 30 - TNT Dec 2017

Bendix/King’s RDR 2000 is one of the best-known examples of radar systems that provide vertical profile functionality.
to 10,000 feet, plus the current aircraft altitude. So, it’s a thunderstorm. If there’s no red at +10 degrees, run TILT on up several more degrees. If that echo now contains any red it’s most likely going to grow into a severe, hail-producing thunderstorm.
Wonderful! With TUT and TUT+altitude, a pilot can see into the future! Knowing that is a tremendous factor in conducting a safe, comfortable flight.
A problem arises, however, when the f light is down low, climbing through 3,000 or 4,000 feet and the growing, potentially severe, storm is only 5 or 6 nm distant. Max up TILT available without VP on other airborne radars is +15 degrees. At +15 degrees, the beam will not sweep high enough to detect
any red that may exist at 25,000 to 35,000 feet when the aircraft is at lower altitudes. But with VP, the radar will see into the high aloft future, as it were, and the pilot will be alerted to echoes that will soon grow into very dangerous storms. That’s a capability other radars have but only with intelligent use of TILT, and to a limited degree. With VP, it’s only a button push away.
I flew one of the earliest VP radars from King extensively in my own aircraft while conducting thunderstorm research 30 years ago. One day I was climbing out of New Orleans, northbound, good visibility, no storms in sight, but under a high overcast. When I selected VP for several sweeps it revealed Level 1 and 2 echoes above me that had best be avoided. Otherwise, I was likely to have several tons of water drop on me. VP gave me a look into the future.
Another day I was doing thunderstorm research out of my home airport 50 nm south of DFW when my radar detected an echo ahead with
Climbing out of New Orleans, nothing at my level, but VP reveals yellow echo above me. In the near future that yellow may drop on me with most unpleasant results. I turned right to get out from under it. Note that the distance to the yellow is just 3.5 nm. Only a + 30 VP scan could detect it. The 15 degrees max of other radars will not reveal the impending danger above.
VP revealing a small cell 32 nm ahead. Behind it a little bump that doesn’t appear to be anything, But look close and you’ll see it has some kind of top knot above it. In this area of obviously unstable atmosphere that suggests an explosion is about to occur. It’s another look into the future only with VP.
Banyan
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28 • TWIN & TURBINE
December 2017