RE: Big jets close to the ground
That's a fact!
My girlfriend and I used to have a strange hobby, back in about 1978. We were in Minneapolis, and would go out to Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, where you could stand with your back up against the blast fence, as big jets passed overhead on final approach.
When they first passed over, you could hear (off to the sides, below the wingtips) the vortices "snapping" like whips. Then, a couple of seconds later, we'd be sucked up against the blast fence. (not hard enough to hurt, or be dangerous, but an interesting effect, nontheless) Th effect was most pronounced with 747s.