Why can't a plane hover when facing 500 mph winds?

Question

I guess the question alone makes sense, but just in case:

A plane can fly 500 mph in no wind, and the air flows over the wings, creating lower air pressure above the plane, therefore pulling the plane upwards.

It should make sense that if the wind is 500mph, then a plane could be able to not move at all, for the wind would again flow over the wings, and suck the plane upwards.

What gives?

Ten years ago there was a little girl in WY who was flying a plane into the wind, and the oncoming wind got too strong, the plane lost its forward thrust and fell straight down. This is why I assumed that planes can't hover. See this article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/14212127.htm

Answer 1

If you read about Admiral Byrd trying to fly over summit of Mt. Everest, it tells the story about his plane hoovered over the summit and, no matter how hard he tried, he could not get over the top. Of course when he was flying, the airplanes then could maybe do 130-140 mph.

Answer 2

This works theoretically. You know on planes, they show that map thing, with temperature and things like that? They give two speeds: airspeed and ground speed. Airspeed is the speed according to the plane (if there was no wind, how fast the plane would be going). Ground speed is how fast the plane is actually traveling, relative to the ground. If there is wind (99% of the time), the airspeed will be different than the ground speed.

So, yes, if the plane is travelling the same speed as the wind, but in an opposite direction, the airspeed would read 500 mph, but the ground speed would read 0 mph.

Answer 3

You are correct. If the wind speed is 500mph opposite to the direction of air plane, then it will hover. This fact is used to test the lift capacity of airplace models in a wind tunnel. All that is needed is the relative velocity between the air and the wing.


The relative velocity became zero between the wind and the plane (plane has forward speed and wind as backward speed). Natural wind velocity alone can never be very high as to compensate the engine forward thrust and to keep at afloat. Winds rarely every go beyond 100 miles per hour and you need much more to keep a plane afloat.

Answer 4

Theoretically, yes. Such a thing would be possible. The trick is finding 500 mph wind. That and controlling the aircraft once it's airborne.

Answer 5

who told you it can't?

i just read the story. it says nothing of losing lift due to wind, the plane went down in a rain storm. probably lightning hit it

besides, you always try to take off into the head wind, because it increases lift

Answer 6

it probally could but if the winds got that high I doubt there would be an airport to land at close by!!