The weight of some clear packing tape will not matter. However if it is not smooth, that will make a difference as it will disrupt the air flow and that is how the plane flies.

Of course, if you were out in wind so strong as to carry the plane away, you were flying in too much wind. That is the number one mistake of new pilots, in my opinion. They want to know how much wind the plane can handle. The real question is how much wind the pilot can handle.

My Aerobird Challenger has been flown successfully in 18 mph winds, but that is due to my experience. That does not mean a new flyer should be out in more than 5 mph winds. The plane can handle it, you can't!

If you get caught again, the key is to slightly dive the plane into the wind to come back. Put on the power but push the nose down. This will put the plane into a shallow dive which will allow it to pick up enough speed to come back against the wind. In fact this will work with the motor off if you are sufficently skilled.

Try this. Learn to hover the plane. Get the plane 100'+ when you have an 8mph+ wind. Now turn the motor off and learn to balance the plane such that it has no ground speed. What you are doing is actually diving into the wind at the same speed as the air coming at you. You appear to be hovering. This is a skill building excercise.

Now, if you can do that, then just push the nose down a little further, putting the plane into a slightly faster dive, motor off, and you will start to move up wind. You will lose some altitude, but that is your source of energy. You trade altitude for forward speed.

You should never let the plane get down wind of you until you are very talented in pushing back against the wind. Practice this up wind, in front of you. First in 5 MPH winds. Then 8, then 10 and gradually build up till you can keep the plane in front of you in any wind you choose. This is how you develop these talents. This is what determines your ablity to fly in wind.

Since you always launch into the wind, your back should be toward the edge of the field, the trees, the buildings or whatever is the defining edge of the field. There really is no reason for the plane to be down wind from you.

I can actually put the plane up in 15 mph winds and turn the motor off and push back and make progress against the wind. I have done it many times. Frankly I find it fun, but I learned to do this flying gliders. I fly discus launched gliders, slope gliders and 2 and 3 meter thermal duration gliders all the time. I love them! No motors so you have to learn how to do this. Works great on the Aerobird. Works great slope soaring as well where there is always wind. The Aerobird Challenger actually does pretty well in a 15 mph wind on the slope without ballast.

This is a fun, versitile plane that can teach you a lot IF you take the time to learn. The plane can handle a lot but can you?