Andrew Clarke 3 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hi just looking out through the window at the trees blowing about and just wondered if someone with more experience could set down some sort of rough guide to what planes in what wind. eg 0 mph to 5 mph slowfly. just wondering because sometimes when my friend says im not flying its too windy i think is it? andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Mullins Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Well I've flown my easystar in winds of about 20mph (i think) when the club chairman wouldn't fly his menace of an aero-bat! I often think its too windy but turns out not to be! The advantage of my site is its on a hill, so I get lift whizzing off the top when its blowing westerly. Good for me but not for everyone else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 hello andrew-at our field/club site-10/15mph is about max-after that you can fly your model-but all's your doing will be over controlling it to make it fly how you want----then again i have friend's who are over the moon with 50mph wind's for the slope's ken anderson..............that'll put the wind up them............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Hafner Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I've flown a standard sports model in about 30-35mph, but our site was quite long and the wind was straight down it. Landing was more of a vertical affair though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snorbitz Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I use the website xcweather for the up to date wind speeds just before i go out.......i reckon once its above 13-15mph constant its not really fun for normal fixed wing flying anymore....as for foamys once its above 7mph you're in dodgy ground......then of cors there's wind chill.....5 mins at -1 the other week felt like a lifetime. Moral of the story don't forget your gloves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erfolg Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 This definatly a question for Timbo. Flying from the Great Orme, where the wind is hardly ever a Zepher, often it is a gale. I have been there as a child when my concern, would I stay on my feet, can I breath, as the wind so strong. Yet people fly in these conditions. Yes, this a Timbo question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Its as much to do with the pilots ability and sense of daring as the model's actual ability to handle the wind - some folk just wont venture a try if its arial bending stuff - and I think this is often because they simply werent MADE to fly in the winds when they were being taught - much like many pilots I know who can only fly left hand circuits, and some are totally incapable of flying anywhere other than their own home patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Leigh Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I'm pretty new to this game, but "more than you think" seems to be a good rule of thumb certainly for slope. My instructor reckons about 15mph for IC but that's probably more about my level of competency Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 well it all sepends if it is guesting but i have flown in a 30ish mph wind but it was nice and steady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Well the Orme is notorious of course as one of the premier caostal soaring sites in the UK and it is quite normal to see a doubling of the sea level airspeed when you are on the ridge of this fantastic slope. We fly all sorts of things of all sorts of sizes, in all sorts of winds! Tuesday this week we were all scratching around for lift, but the 46" foamy wildthings flew in light winfs which many people found hard to beleive - average windspeed that day was around 8mph ON THE TOP. It was a struggle though, and lighter stuff faired better. My 15 oz slipstream wing managed to fly almost all the time, but by late afternoon, the wind had swung northerley and dropped off to probably...5MPH or so, and the combination of direction and lower speed meant the lift was poor. However some lads had the right toys for the days, and the MPX easyglider amongst others flew very very well in these light conditions - even managing to thermal a bit despite the cold temperatures. Today a few of us managed a few flights in what was probabaly around 35MPH - I maidened the Jart... but decided 1/2 lb of ballast slugs was the best idea - worked well, I had three great flights, and, more importantly 3 nice landings too Ultymate was flying his lovely new Wasabi also - un ballasted - and it was sweeeeet. Unfortunately the rain swept in from Anglesey, and felt like 12 bore shot pellets on yer face...so we had a coffee or two, and quit whilst still ahead. Man that Jart rocks Some pictures on the forum in another thread, later..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 ...and what sort of turbulence is kicked off from ground obstructions. The same wind strength can give very different conditions at our site depending on it's direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Yep, the dirty air on the back of the slope has to be watched for, and catches many a man out - funny also how the only ditch up there also has the same model magnet as the trees do at power sites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Hafner Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I've seen people chicken out of flying because the cross wind was over 5mph, when i was quite happy to fly so i think it also depends on the pilots skill but much more on his/her confidence/size of wallet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Clarke 3 Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 i remember when i learned to fly with the Chester club,i soloed after a couple of weeks,mainly thanks to my flight sim.I often found myself alone on a sunday because of conditions,mainly because all the other lucky blighters are off in the week so only flew in ideal conditions. I just wonder sometimes when its windy if i had a heavier more powerful plane it would handle the conditions better,most of my planes are ic but the ones i can fly at short notice hence get flown the most are all quite lightly loaded leccy ones,maybe this is a good reason for a new plane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Hafner Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Ah yes, the year out between scholl and uni, that was a good time,......... work from 6 till 2 then spend the afternoon at the flying site. Waiting for ideal conditions in the north of scotland is like waiting too win the lottery..........we flew in most conditions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Claridge Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 bmfa suggest 25mph as a limit for safe flying at the shows but a wot4 is wonderful fun at 35mph wind speed try doing a roll flying backwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin watson Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 when the wind is over 20mph rather then distroy your expensive best models why not do what i do fly my slipstream with hot motor this will fly easily in 40+ mph winds other people who have witnessed me flying in extreme winds have bought either slipstreams or powered zaggis. i fly my slope zaggi in 50mph winds. i used to fly a phase 3 f16 in 20 to 30 mph winds these really cut through the wind. remember zaggis ect can be bounced back to earth without any damage and flying in high winds can be great fun especially watching all the other club members wait for the wind to die down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytilbroke Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Comes done to three things then, Model Skill Willingness to "go for it" I flew my Irvine .61 powered Flair "Passion" 3d type with about 30mph wind. Needed 3/4 throttle to hover in for a landing tho'. I had a great smile for the whole flight and ten minutes after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 The only time its too windy is when you can only fly backwards! Seriusly? I will fly my flying wings v-trainer (slow trainer foamy) in 20 mph winds, or up to 25 mph but that isn't really very fun - full throttle and going no where. You gain hight when you can, and dive for the gusts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Fidling Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I flew in a ground speed of about 20knts (ish) only too find it must have been approaching nearly 35 / 37 knots or so, and unfortunately just enough to carry my 1.5m Ultrafly Tutor just out of range and i got to watch it initiate it's own spin, hit the ground, the hear the crunch. My Lesson, if it's a nice Sunday afternoon and no-one has flown that day or even no-one there... there's probably a reason! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 My ultrafly tutor doesn't like wind much ether, but I bet if you fitted a heavyer battery and changed to a 10 x 7 prop it would do a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Matthews Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 10 mph is about the lightest winds to be expected at the Hexham Field. Usually it's on the nose, but we do learn about the rudder pretty quickly. I can remember when starting out, trying to avoid windy days, not easy in Northumberland. I think that the real answer to the question is that as we become more experienced, we are able to discern what would be enjoyable and what would be unwise. I was actually refering to flying in wind but I suppose it might apply to anything! You will learn very quickly to judge the answer for yourself Andrew. Maybe like me, you will even come to prefer flying with a bit of a blow. Various pitfalls and features of flying in windy conditions have been mentioned here. Whilst this is all valid advice, it will be meaningless until you've flown in such conditions. The one piece of advice that is important to realise early on, is that if you run out of power, it's best to be upwind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Ireland Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 "How windy is too windy?" If you can't stand up its too windy... nuf said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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