In a video posted by YouTube user fatesclown’s channel, two small planes seemingly take off on their own at the US Air Force Academy Airfield on 4/23/2014.
How can this be? magic? ghosts? Actually, a weather phenomenon called a microburst is to blame.
According to the National Weather Service, a microburst is a localized column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter. Microbursts can cause extensive damage at the surface, and in some instances, can be life-threatening. Wind speeds in microbursts can reach up to 100 mph, or even higher, which is equivalent to an EF-1 tornado. Winds this high can cause major damage to homes and other structures and level hundreds of trees.
