This storm front was a doozy and came quickly once it arrived but with some warning. That is the first time I have seen
EMERALD GREEN Clouds and I knew we were in for a beating. That is usually where tornadoes germinate!
I was working the line in Vintage and there were no airplanes in the pattern. Suddenly we saw a Cessna 150 on downwind for 18!!
I kept watching the storm front and that airplane. He got it on the runway and we ushered him into the nearest best spot. The wind was already starting to BLOW. He jumped out and was so proud that this was his 43rd OSH! Nearly his last; had he been caught in the storm......
He had no tiedowns and no chocks. Good thing we carry them for exactly this situation! I was waiting to throw the half hitches in the tiedown line as my fellow volunteer pounded in the upwind stake. I was ready with the second one and, just as he hit the stake for the last time, slammed three half hitches in and the storm hit JUST AS I THREW THE LAST HITCH!!
The pilot ran for the point building (a station for our volunteers) and I jumped in the VW and headed for camp. The Wind/Rain/Hail bashed painfully into my left ear. It was Raining so hard I couldn't see where I was going and the windshield wipers were doing their best to keep up (impossible). We jumped into our Cabelas tent (wouldn't have any other) and watched as the storm beat on the side of the tent.
We had no damage in Vintage that I heard of. I believe it hit harder in the North section of the airport including Custom. Had airplanes been moving themselves around (there would not have been enough volunteers to help) many would have "gone flying" from where they were untied.
SO attempting to relocate airplanes in anticipation of where a storm might blow from would not be possible. It can gust from many different directions, not just from the West. This one shifted from West to Northwest to North during the course of the storm....at least according to my tent walls. Leaving them anchored to the ground is the best option.
IMHO.......