ORIGINAL: Oberst
Flying in windy conditions will make you a better pilot eventually, but at what cost? I know a guy at my Club that fly's in windy conditions and he keeps buying or repairing his planes on a regular bases. I have a plane that is 3 years old now because I don't take un-nessesary risks.
That's what "beater" planes are for.... He's just using the wrong plane.
My Stik's with the added weight of big battery packs, LOVE the wind... you can throw the engine into idle and take advantage of the breeze.
As someone here said: "If you aren't crashing planes, you aren't flying enough!".