Michael Barclay Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 In view of the recent strong winds and winter on the way with probably more of the same, what do the panel feel are the most desirable attributes of an all weather flyer. I am thinking of type of model, weight, wing span, chord, chord depth, or any other points that the pannel would design into an all weather flyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Christy Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Shoulder-wing, for easy hand-launching from a muddy field, moderately stable to assist landing in turbulence, not too light, so it doesn't get bounced around too much and small enough to get in the back of the car quickly when the heavens open up! A Tauri (or similar) springs to mind! Tauri Super Tauri -- Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMON CRAGG Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I have recently refurbished / painted and added a bit of scale detail to ye olde "Arising Sar" as a Winter hack. Tricycle undercarriage, three bladed prop, large wheels, easy to fly with no bad tendencies. Will cope with high winds, so ideal for our coming Winter!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Plenty stuff out there for less than calm conditions, something that weighs a bit helps, clean lines so it penetrates, but many models we already fly, can handle days when the pilot stays grounded, it's harder work, but it will improve your flying and the days you can fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 As Mick Reeves said, "dial in some down trim, to up the speed" Acrowots, Wot 4, (kit built) are strong, lumpy, and have strong undercarriage mounts. Use nylon bolts which will shear if it goes wrong. Don't fall in love with a gale maiden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 How about a kite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I agree with John Stones above and weight does help, but there again saw a Bixler 3 handling 15kts last week end with ease, but in the hands of an expert. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I once had a book of kite builds. I built a sledge sort of thing from builders plastic, parcel tape, and reinforced tape, strutted with glassfibre. Down to the park, I launched it. I was fit in those days, just 13 stone. It took me off my feet, quickly accelerated me across the grass, and I hit a small tree, and let go. It crossed a road, a railway, and came down in a factory. Muddy individual asked security, "can I have my kit back mister". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GONZO Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 When the trees are bending at 45deg and the rain and hail are drumming at the window the best thing to fly is an armchair by the fire. Otherwise, one of the 'plastic' planes by ARC/Thunder Tiger(got both from when I ventured forth in colder weather) like the 'Ready 2' or the bigger 'Cessna' if you can find one. Unaffected by any amount of moisture, towards the heavy side for size, tricycle UC, side mounted engine so exhaust under plane to minimise 'gunge' and most importantly 'tough as old boots'. I commend these items to the house. Of course if your like me with mileage under your belt and arthritis in the hands, knees, hips and lower spine you'll wait for warmer weather or suffer the consequences. You'll end up aching like the blazes, I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 One of these.... The Screamer. . 51" span and weighing a bit less than 5 pounds. . It will happily fly in very rough weather. . One of mine has flown in 70mph winds (did it for a £5 bet). Just bolt in lots of power, and have some fun. My lad, pictured many years ago when he was 11, loved his one. . . Child's play, eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I've spent many an hour flying an EPP profile Extra in silly winds - very responsive controls and no undercarriage to damage... However, my current weapon of choice for the more challenging conditions (no doubt it'll be out tomorrow) is a small (43 inch) Seagull EP Extra 300 which seems to handle almost anything I throw it at - I can't match Brian's Great Storm exploits but I was flying earlier this year in measured 31mph gusting 50 winds, necessitating a genuine full throttle approach! The common factor isn't a high wing loading but control responsiveness coupled with predictable handling. I will sometimes put the battery further forward in very rough conditions. I will admit that I fitted a Jeti Assist (stabilised) receiver to it recently as an experiment. I have to say that it makes rough conditions flying almost as easy as a gentle summer evening's flight. I often have to be advised that conditions are turbulent when I have it activated! I could certainly recommend a similar set up to anyone nervous of flying in strong winds. Edited By Martin Harris on 11/09/2019 18:12:29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 How about, wingspan approx 24ins. Weight about 1kg with auto-stabilisation as standard. Due to the weather this year, it about the only thing flying around our field. It's called a Duck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Posted by Brian Cooper on 11/09/2019 17:28:52: One of these.... The Screamer. . 51" span and weighing a bit less than 5 pounds. . It will happily fly in very rough weather. . One of mine has flown in 70mph winds (did it for a £5 bet). Just bolt in lots of power, and have some fun. My lad, pictured many years ago when he was 11, loved his one. . . Child's play, eh. A well educated young man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I am with GONZO on this one. ARC/ Thundertiger Jupiter, my go to hack for all conditions for twenty years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Bennett Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 My goto fixed-wing model for windy/gusty conditions is my TwinStar, because it's the only foamy model in my hanger, and it bounces nicely. I still keep a kite in my car, but these days when it gets really bad the only thing I fly is my 250-size quadcopter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Muir Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Phoenix 2000 is what I go for if it's windy. Any powered slope soarer type of thing or warmliner/hotliner would be just the job as they're designed for the winds you get up a hill. And you can go slope soaring with them if all else fails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Neasham Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Been flying RC for almost 40 years now, and probably the best model I ever had for flying in really strong winds was a Cambria fun fighter Spitfire, powered with a Webra speed 20, flew it in winds strong enough that made the frequency pennant flap around so much that I thought the TX antenna was about to snap off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Armstrong Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I used to fly my old Hobbyzone Mini Cub in most weathers except rain. I removed the undercarriage to make landing easier. As said by others, being a foamie helped, though I didn't have too many prangs. Speed was a bit of an issue. There was a limit of about 20 knots where it didn't really go forward anymore. The only problem was that when we got a calm day, my flying got worse as I was used to flying with some sort of wind bias. Maybe it's because I started out many years ago flying slope soarers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 My olde-worlde Crescent Bullet and Tornado were my own favourites if it was a bit rough out, both available from PB Models now. These days it's my Curare or Easystreet mk2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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