Storm Chasers caught in E$/5 tornado Video

**SMWS6TA** · 05-29-2013, 10:26 AM

These guys have biggest balls in the world or are just damn crazy.

5/27/2013 TIV2 (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) Is Hit By WEDGE Tornado in Kansas - YouTube

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013...wister-scream/

**dav-02ws6-m6** · 05-29-2013, 03:14 PM

That's insane.

**wileyCoyote** · 05-29-2013, 07:36 PM

sean casey is the guy who pioneered the TIV, ...he was on the stormchasers show, ....i know his TIV "2" was made beefier and w/ deployable anchoring stakes and all, ...but a tornado wouldn't have to lift a finger to pluck that thing up off the ground if it wanted to... he's got to be pretty lucky!

**Zapper2003** · 05-29-2013, 07:41 PM

I wonder what hit the windscreen at 2:07?

**5.0THIS** · 05-30-2013, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by wileyCoyote

sean casey is the guy who pioneered the TIV, ...he was on the stormchasers show, ....i know his TIV "2" was made beefier and w/ deployable anchoring stakes and all, ...but a tornado wouldn't have to lift a finger to pluck that thing up off the ground if it wanted to... he's got to be pretty lucky!

@ deployable anchoring stakes. Tornados rip huge trees (roots and all) out of the ground with no effort. Those roots go ten feet down into the ground. Anchoring stakes

What an idiot.

**SiggyZ** · 05-30-2013, 05:52 AM

Large pieces of debris were hitting the windshield and causing those sparks. That's one tough vehicle.

Originally Posted by Zapper2003

I wonder what hit the windscreen at 2:07?

**SiggyZ** · 05-30-2013, 05:57 AM

Here's the TIV vehicle Casey and crew was in.

**b.lee** · 05-30-2013, 06:46 AM

that's crazy... well built TIV that's for sure.

**SMWS6TA** · 05-30-2013, 10:56 AM

Wonder how it will stand up to a truck being dropped onto it?

**Zapper2003** · 05-30-2013, 01:03 PM

I think its safe to say their 'anchors' are simply to help aid in keeping it from spinning in circles when they come to a stop.

**SiggyZ** · 05-30-2013, 01:20 PM

I'd say it's survived worse. It survived being inside an EF4 tornado for over 2 minutes.

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Wonder how it will stand up to a truck being dropped onto it?

**SeVeReDiStOrTiOn** · 05-30-2013, 05:21 PM

That TIV looks pretty BA. I wonder if those side skirts raise up...the look pretty low.

**wileyCoyote** · 05-30-2013, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by SeVeReDiStOrTiOn

That TIV looks pretty BA. I wonder if those side skirts raise up...the look pretty low.

...the side skirts are lowered when they go into "hunker down mode" in anticipation of the strike... also those large spikes are driven deep into the ground to help anchor it...

...while i have to give credit to team casey for building a vehicle to survive this one, i still can't help thinking that a tornado could easily pluck that thing off the ground...

**Zapper2003** · 05-31-2013, 03:29 AM

I think they stay planted due to its sheer size, aerodynamics, and relatively low surface area/weight ratio. Its so low to the ground that it doesn't allow much lift under the vehicle.