Lightning and bad weather can be very beautifully



Want more great reading on lightning? Check out - LIGHTNING LINKS

But not when you are enjoying your flight
No doubt the safest place to be during thunderstorms is on the ground.

The intension of this page was to have a summary on stormscopes.
We have this item on our most wanted list, but know almost nothing about them

This article will help you on your first start.
Outwitting Thor (Tips on Using the Stormscope)

In the early days we had the "Ryan" Stormscope. The story is told that he scared the heck out of himself and his wife while flying and running into a thunderstorm. At that point he developed a weather detection device called the "Stormscope" Later Mr. Ryan sold out and developed another system called the "Strikefinder".
Both of these systems have benefits and draw backs.

The theory behind the Strikefinder and Stormscope is detection of electrical discharge. If lightning is present or a heavy static charge is discharged, then the system will pick it up. This "strike" would show on the screen via a distance and athmith. If enough strikes are in the same area it is a good indication of static discharge (thunderstorm). Not the direction you would want to go. Basically the Strikefinder/Stormscope is looking for noise and transposing the information on the screen for the pilot to interpret. The system works quite well. In some modes of the systems you can get a 360 degree view of what’s going on. This is good because if things get too rough ahead you can find a way out. Thunderstorms build fast and we can find ourselves in situations where we need a quick way out. While the Strikefinder and Stormscope will show many areas of activity if it’s out there, it's not recommend trying to fly between the storm activities unless there are many miles between.
These devices are not intended and should not be used to try and find a hole in a front of storms. This could shorten your life; just don’t try it.
the device tells where thunder cells are and what is developing. You should stay away from that area.

What will the Strikefinder and Stormscope "not" do for me? They will not pick rain/ice or cells that do not have electrical activity.
Is this type of weather detection better than radar? No, just different, it looks at turbulent air, not moisture.
You really can’t tell what the radar is telling you if you only use it a few times a year. Stormscope/Strikefinder is easy to read and is best for pilots who seldom fly in thunderstorm regions. Another plus for Stormscope/Strikefinder is you can get a look at the activity while sitting on the ground.

Where to mount the antenna?
Avionics shop use a skin mapper to find a spot with as little noise as possible.
Because the antenna is looking for noise (read lightning)
This location could be the top or bottom of the aircraft. The next thing we look for is can we physically mount the antenna in this spot?
We try to segregate the wiring from the antenna to the indicator or receiver as good as possible. If you don’t, you will pay the price later by having these pesky dots show up on the screen all the time for no reason
.Lets say you don’t think your Strikefinder/Stormscope is working correctly. Is there a method to check it out? Yes, all avionics shops that are dealers for Strikefinder and/or Stormscope are required to have equipment to functionally test the equipment and the calibration of the equipment.

The Strikefinder and the high end Stormscope's can be interface with HSI systems. This allows the weather to change areas on the screen as the aircraft turns.
Heading inputs aren’t required but are neat features.
A poor man solution to this is to reset it every time you change your heading.
We will start from "cheap" to "unaffordable"

A Stormscope system is an excellent tool to help you avoid Nature's worst weather.
It can detect thunderstorm activity that your on-board radar (or even ATC radar) can miss.
When the airspace ahead of you is lighted up on the display of a Stormscope, it's time to find another route!
All Stormscope's are solid-state, low-power, passive detection systems with no moving parts. Unlike radar, a Stormscope works on the ground, even before engine start.

WX-8 Stormscope


The WX-8 Stormscope is the most affordable Stormscope solution. This is a two-piece system consisting of a display/processor and an antenna. The WX-8 display is different from other Stormscope's that you have seen. Instead of a round green CRT tube, the WX-8 uses a three color LCD to show thunderstorm activity in the 135 degrees of airspace in front of your aircraft.
The colors are used to indicate range:
Green - 60 to 100 nm
Yellow - 30 to 60 nm
Red - 5 to 30 nm
Each segment is 15 degrees wide. When activity is detected, these segments will show a steady color, flash slowly, or flash quickly (depending on the activity level).
The WX-8's display is less precise than other Stormscope displays, and it is not designed to help a pilot "thread the needle" through a line of storms. Instead, it will detect dangerous activity and allow the pilot to give the thunderstorms the distance they demand.
When the airspace ahead of you is lighted up on the display of a Stormscope, it's time to find another route!
3M WX-8 $ $1,795.00

WX-10 Stormscope

The 3M WX-10 series plots electrical activity with up to 256 dots on a 360 degree green CRT screen. Select from 4 ranges at either 200, 100, 50 or 25nm. Switch to the 180 degree mode and the WX-10 focuses all its attention to the front of the aircraft. Stores lightning data in all ranges simultaneously .WX-10A has upgraded software that improves storm definition and accuracy.
No heading is slaved to the information on the screen !

The WX-10A Stormscope is a very common Stormscope solution, and offers some accuracy improvements over the WX-10. The WX-10A System consists of a display, remote processor, and an antenna.

3M WX-10 $2,495.00
3M WX-10A $2,795.00

WX-11 Stormscope

The WX-11 Stormscope is more advanced than the WX-10A because it is gyro stabilized. It uses the bootstrap output from your HSI to keep the display oriented to the current aircraft heading during turns. On a Stormscope that is not gyro stabilized, after a turn, the pilot should clear the display to allow the activity to be detected on the new bearing. This is not necessary with the WX-11, since the display has "turned" with your aircraft.

WX-11 $3,195

WX-900 Stormscope

The WX-900 Stormscope is the most affordable model in the latest Series II product range. The Series II Stormscope's incorporate the latest ranging technology for more precise tracking of lightning discharges.

The WX-900 Stormscope features:
Selectable operation in 25, 50 and 100 nm ranges
Stores lightning data in all ranges simultaneously
360° view of surrounding area
Clear function to help determine storm intensity and movement
Supertwist LCD display with electro luminescent backlight
Stopwatch timer with start, stop & reset functions
Automatic and pilot-initiated self-test programs
TSO'd
WX-900 $2,995 or $4995 new

WX-1000 Stormscope
WX-1000+ Stormscope
WX-1000E Stormscope



The WX-1000 Stormscope family contains the most sophisticated models in the latest Series II product range. The Series II Stormscope's incorporate the latest ranging technology for more precise tracking of lightning discharges. In addition to the features found within the standard WX-1000 Stormscope, the WX-1000+ provides gyro-stabilized display. When provided with an external heading source, such as a King KCS-55/55A system, the WX-1000+ will keep the display oriented to the current aircraft heading during turns. This is a great feature to reduce pilot workload and improve situational awareness. Using a gyro-stabilized display is most helpful when maneuvering during departure and approach, when the pilot is busiest.
A digital heading is shown in weather mode, and there is a warning flag shown if there is a loss of heading information. The WX-1000 is a long range, high-performance thunderstorm avoidance system. It also provides more display and installation flexibility than other Stormscope's The display may also be used with a Goodrich SkyWatch and SkyWatch HP traffic avoidance systems. Under normal operation, the display will show thunderstorm activity. If there is a traffic threat, the display will switch automatically to display this information. Once the traffic threat is no longer a factor, the display will revert back to Stormscope mode. (The display can also be switched manually.)

Within the WX-1000 processor, there is an expansion slot that allows upgrades to either a WX-1000+ or a WX-1000E. The WX-1000E may be interfaced with a GPS or Loran for additional display information. By using the RS232/422 output from your GPS/Loran, the WX-1000E will superimpose your flight plan on top of the thunderstorm activity. This will allow you to see how close your intended path will take you to the storms. With this information, you have all the data you need to decide to divert around the weather.
The WX-1000E will also show an electronic CDI, based on your navigator's output. The WX-1000E is optionally available with an ARINC 429 EFIS output for even greater display connectivity to an EFIS or radar display.

The WX-1000 Stormscope features:
Selectable operation in 25, 50, 100, and 200 nm ranges
Stores lightning data in all ranges simultaneously
360° view of surrounding area, 120° view of forward airspace
Clear function to help determine storm intensity and movement
High resolution, multi-function green CRT with adjustable brightness
6 installer-programmable checklists, each with 30 lines and 20 characters per line
Stopwatch timer with start, stop & reset functions
Automatic and pilot-initiated self-test programs

The WX-1000+ Stormscope features:
Same as WX-1000+Heading-stabilized display

WX-1000E Stormscope features:
Same as WX-1000+
Key Navaid features(RS232/RS422 input from GPS/Loran )
Display of flight plan courselines and waypoints
Heading-stabilized display of courseline to waypoint
Visual display of course deviation indicator (CDI)
Six user-selectable displays of digital navigation data
Optional ARINC 429 EFIS

WX-1000 + $3,995.00
WX-1000E $4,295.00

WX-950 Stormscope

The WX-950 Stormscope is clear step up from the WX-900 in the Series II family. The WX-950 boasts a number of improvements, including:

The WX-950 includes newer, very advanced lightning detection software. When set to Strike mode, the WX-950 will plot each discharge separately, like every other Stormscope. The new Cell mode is used to help better define the storm cells as areas to avoid.
Heading Stabilization - When provided with an external heading source. The WX-950 will keep the display oriented to the current aircraft heading during turns.
Greater range - The WX-950 is capable of detecting and displaying discharges out to 200 nm
The WX-950 Stormscope features:
Selectable operation in 25, 50, 100, and 200 nm ranges
Selectable Strike and Cell modes
Automatic heading stabilization, with proper input
Stores lightning data in all ranges simultaneously
360° view of surrounding area, or 120° view of forward airspace
Clear function to help determine storm intensity and movement
High resolution 3 inch CRT display
Self-test function

BFGoodrich WX-950 $5,195.

WX-500 Stormscope

The Stormscope® WX-500 Weather Mapping Sensor interfaces with the new generation of multi-function displays.
http://www.gaavionics.com/wx500.htm

Now you can integrate proven lightning detection and avoidance information with your moving map avionics. Key WX-500 features that are available to the MFD, but may not necessarily used by the MFD include: Up to 200 nmi range, Pilot selectable strike and cell modes, Display of airspace in 120° forward and 360° surrounding views, Heading stabilization, Lightning data storage on all ranges simultaneously, Strike rate indicator, and Built-in self tests.
WX-500 $ 6,689

Strike finder
$4995
The STRIKE FINDER® Digital Weather Avoidance System detects and analyzes the electrical activity emanating from thunderstorms within a 200 nautical mile (nm) radius of the aircraft. A unique graphic display plots an accurate, reliable and easily-interpreted picture of electrical activity, that you can use to circumnavigate the hazards associated with thunderstorms.
The STRIKE FINDER® System analyzes the individual strike signal properties to determine the bearing, range and severity of the activity. Strike data is plotted on the display as single orange dots by range and azimuth, in relation to the aircraft symbol ("heads up"). As the number of lightning strikes increase, so does the number of plotted strike dots. Cells start to form indicating increased lightning activity
INSIGHT'S STABILIZATION MODULE ELIMINATES
THE NEED FOR A SLAVED COMPASS SYSTEM

We are trying to buy a second hand system for a reasonable price.
We still haven't found a suitable system which fits our small purse.
Even the older systems are still to expensive ! ;-((
But....
We keep lurking ebay and if everybody in the whole world doesn't pay attention to an auction, we will buy the stormscope for a reasonable price. ;-))

What can be found on the second hand market ??
Find some history on ebay:
http://pages.ebay.com/search/items/search_adv.html
mark the Completed Items only

WX-1000+, 12 months US $5,000 Jun-22-03 (not sold)
WX 1000E US $3,800 Jun-22-03
WX-950 US $3,405 Jun-22-03
WX-1000+US $3,550 Jun-23-03
WX-10A US $1,302 (reserve not met) Jun-27-03
WX-900 US $2,400 Jun-29-03
WX-1000 US $3,000 Jun-29-03
WX-1000E US $3,840 Jun-26-03
WX-950 US $3,750 Jun-28-03
WX-1000 US $3,150 Jul-01-03
WX-8 Jul-06-03
WX-1000E Jul-07-03
WX-8 (no antenna) Jul-11-03

Collected part numbers
WX-8 PN 78-8042-7819-8
WX-8 PN 78-8041-7819-8 3M
WX-9 PN 78-8041-7712-5
WX-9 PN 78-8041-7591-3 (Antenna??)
WX-10 PN 78-8041-7673-9
WX-10 PN 78-8041-7634-1(Antenna??)
WX-10J PN 78-8041-0886-1
WX-10JPN 78-8041-0812-7 (Antenna??)
WX-10A PN 78-8041-0985-1
WX-10A PN 78-8041-0984-4 (Antenna??)
WX-10A 78-8047-0985-1 3M
WX-10AJ PN 78-8047-0988-5
WX-10AJPN 78-8047-0987-7(Antenna??)
WX-11 PN 78-8047-0985-8
WX-11 PN 78-8047-0966-1(Antenna??)
WX-11J PN 78-8047-0978-6
WX-11J PN 78-8047-0977-8(Antenna??)
WX-11 78-8047-0958-8 3M
WX-12 PN 78-8047-0940-6
WX-500 PN 805-11500-001
WX-500.....NY-163 PN 805-10930-001 Antenna
WX-900 PN 78-8060-5960-2
WX-900 PN 78-8060-59-70-1 ( Antenna ??)
WX-950 PN 830-10950-001/002
PN 830-10930-001 Antenna
WX-1000
PN 78-8051-9160-4
PN 78-8060-5941-2
PN 78-8060-6086-5
PN 78-8060-6092-3
WX-1000/SKY497 display p/n 78-8060-5900-8
WX-1000 processor p/n 78-8060-5790-3
Series II antenna p/n 78-8051-9200-8
WX-1000 AN/AMS-2 (military version)

Antenna stuff
78-8041-7950-1 MANF: 3M TSO-C110 MOD 1, INTERCHANGEABLE WITH
P/N # 78-8060-5860-4 , USED ON WX9/10/11/12 STORMSCOPE SERIES WTG. 1.5LBS REMOVED WORKING, SINGLE CONNECTER, 10PIN