INSANE Video footage from inside Stormchaser Vehicle in an EF4 Tornado!

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ScoobMaster

ScoobMaster

Platinum Member
Jan 17, 2001
2,528
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I posted this in the the thread about Tim Samaras (Stormchasers that were killed on Friday 5/31) but it was getting lost in the discussion, so I made this thread to make it more accessible.

If you ever watched "Storm Chasers" on Discovery, you know Sean Casey and his TIV (Tornado Intercept Vehicles). In short he has custom-built tank-like vehicles for the purpose of getting them into a tornado and filming in imax. On 5/27 in Kansas, he got into an EF4 monster. check out the video footage from inside:

INSIDE A TORNADO - FULL VERSION - TIV2 INTERCEPT

That hydraulic machinery noise you hear at 0:52 as Sean yells "go floor!, go floor!" are hydraulic cylinders driving large metal spikes into the ground at all four corners of the vehicle while it simultaneously lowers to the ground so no air can pass underneath it and create lift.

Some info about the TIV and its construction

Crazy!
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,454
6,300
126
i saw that in the other thread, and yeah that is pretty damn insane. they got some balls to do something like that. just seems so risky to have a person in there when they could rig it up to be RC instead.
 
dank69

dank69

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
36,903
32,040
136
How much money spent for 720p? Kinda disappointed to not see a cow fly by.
 
Jodell88

Jodell88

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
8,762
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purbeast0 said:
i saw that in the other thread, and yeah that is pretty damn insane. they got some balls to do something like that. just seems so risky to have a person in there when they could rig it up to be RC instead.
Click to expand...
And who is gonna jump out of a vehicle to jump into another one with a tornado bearing down on you?

EDIT: I also believe that it is illegal to use a RC vehicle of that size on public roads.
 
WT

WT

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2000
4,816
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The noise inside that cockpit was just deafening, and it seemed to take forever to actually pass over them (seconds turn to minutes inside of something that powerful). Even after all of that, it seemed like a full minute passed before anyone inside could muster something to say.
 
L

lk2500

Member
Oct 12, 2011
167
2
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I saw a stormchaser video recently on the news where the camera was pointed at the storm chaser's face (passenger side) and the guy was freaking out (screaming "drive south, drive south!!"). Anybody have a link to that one, can't seem to find it?
 
M

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
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the mythbusters testing of the TIV2 was impressive. The thing is designed well.
 
L

lk2500

Member
Oct 12, 2011
167
2
81
lk2500 said:
I saw a stormchaser video recently on the news where the camera was pointed at the storm chaser's face (passenger side) and the guy was freaking out (screaming "drive south, drive south!!"). Anybody have a link to that one, can't seem to find it?
Click to expand...

Found the video I was looking for, pretty intense look on the guy's face :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ziZNsproDzs

mizzou said:
the mythbusters testing of the TIV2 was impressive. The thing is designed well.
Click to expand...

Yes, but not perfectly. I believe that TIV2 vehicle had it's hood blown off in the last tornado.
https://www.facebook.com/ReedTimmerTVN
 
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M

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
lk2500 said:
Yes, but not perfectly. I believe that TIV2 vehicle had it's hood blown off in the last tornado.
Click to expand...

Wiki says the TIV3 is going to be a more "baja" style with a smaller cabin.

Would be VERY interesting to see a densely armored and very mobile 4x4 sputtering around :D

My only question would be, isn't "weight" a huge advantage in these things? If the skirts don't work, you may be flying around like a tumbleweed!
 
M

Minerva

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
2,129
20
81
mizzou said:
Wiki says the TIV3 is going to be a more "baja" style with a smaller cabin.

Would be VERY interesting to see a densely armored and very mobile 4x4 sputtering around :D

My only question would be, isn't "weight" a huge advantage in these things? If the skirts don't work, you may be flying around like a tumbleweed!
Click to expand...

Yes weight helps but they still must prevent wind from getting underneath...

Even freight trains are not immune to the powerful winds!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYubpuIe3cw

I've lived through one of these. When your ears pop just before hell breaks loose you know it's too close! The armor is going to protect far better than a standard vehicle obviously but if something real heavy like a big bore diesel engine falls hundreds of yards out of the sky on to the roof the person inside is going to get squashed like a bug. Sure it's remote chance of happening but all it has to happen is once.
 
B

BUTCH1

Lifer
Jul 15, 2000
20,433
1,769
126
lk2500 said:
Found the video I was looking for, pretty intense look on the guy's face :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ziZNsproDzs



Yes, but not perfectly. I believe that TIV2 vehicle had it's hood blown off in the last tornado.
https://www.facebook.com/ReedTimmerTVN
Click to expand...

If you look at the hood just at where it meets the windshield it's vibrating like a MOFO during the most intense winds. Still, one hell of a design that can survive an F5 intact, those hydraulic ground spears are genius idea..
 
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