Flying wing gliding in high winds
Hi Guys (and gals),
I'm planning to drop a flying wing from a weather balloon,
at 35,000 feet or higher...
Winds up to 50 mph up there.
Flying wing makers can't really give me flight characteristics
in such winds.
For stability, and to minimize horizontal distance covered,
do you think it would be preferable to point the plane
directly into the wind (so it would be pushed backward, because
it's forward velocity would not be enough to overcome the wind),
or to fly spirals as it descends (in this case, it would also be pushed
in the direction of the wind because the upwind leg of the spiral
would not be strong enough to overcome the wind)?
Or perhaps would it be best to have it fly with the wind (is this
the most stable orientation in a high wind?) and have it be
in a dive to get it thru the high winds as fast as possible...
Other ideas for a stable return home, preferably minimizing
horizontal distance covered?
And please share any direct personal experience with flying
a flying wing as a glider in high winds.
Thanks!
Prahas