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Old 09-29-2003 | 10:28 AM
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LouW
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From: Moreland, GA
Default RE: Scale factor and wind velocity

The short answer to your question is No. There is no direct correlation between the way a model handles in the wind and a full scale aircraft of similar design.

To understand, it is important to realize that an airplane is not affected at all by a steady wind of any velocity. It only responds to sudden changes in wind direction/velocity as may be due to turbulence, windshear, etc. The main problem with wind occurs when landing and taking off with a significant crosswind. There the problem becomes one of maneuverability as the pilot flies relative to the runway. The maximum crosswind is frequently limited more by pilot skill than airplane characteristics. The maximim crosswind component for full scale aircraft is usually in the range of 1/4 to 1/6 of the approach speed, and is determined by flight test. That may be a little much for models since the model pilot is not in as good a position to judge drift as a pilot riding inside the aircraft.

Some of the same factors that make an airplane more maneuverable make crosswind landings easier. These are less stability (more rearward cg, less dihedral, etc.). Also a higher wing loading and the resulting faster approach speed helps. These same factors make an airplane less disturbed by turbulence.

In wind tunnel testing a sigificant factor called "Reynolds number" is used to relate test data to actual aircraft. Reynolds number is basically a ratio of inertia to viscous forces. Generally data taken at a known Reynolds number can be extrapulated mathematically to another. The process is only approximate thought and can lead to error if carried too far.