Air Elemental Whirlwind + Flying Inverted

[Sturmtiger]

If a Large Air Elemental uses it's Whirlwind natural ability and chooses to create a 40' tall whirlwind and thus a 20' wide top, could it then invert itself (with Perfect Fly movement speed, on a move action with a DC20 fly check +10' of movement to flip itself over 180 degrees) so that it's top is on the ground occupying a 4x4 space? After it does that, it could potentially move through a group of ground based targets that would fit in that range and engulf a larger area than it's usual 5' base, correct?

Sounds legal to me, but I'm wondering if I'm missing a key point...

[Jeff Merola]

Well, there's the fact that the rules don't really cover how facing works, so anything like that would have to be covered via GM fiat.

[Blakmane]

There's no rules for what happens when you turn yourself upside-down: that lies squarely within the realm of the GM. Given that by definition a whirlwind has the funnel start at the lowest gravitational point, I think you are on shaky ground (pun not intended).

[Sturmtiger]

Thanks to you both!! Does Whirlwind form's specific dimensions have any bearing on that? I understand a regular sized creature that occupies a cube has all spaces occupied being equal, but not sure how an "irregular" sized creature fits into that mix with specific dimensions.

Could it not choose a space as it's base, and then the direction of it's top, like a cone breath weapon? (For the moment not including the physics of an actual whirlwind ;) )

Edit: Upon further reflection it seems like while this may be possible there's specifically no rule for something like this, which makes sense since it would be a rather rare case and up to the GM. Thanks!