RE: wind speed
Too many different things come into play when you are asking about wind. Just for fun go look up some photos of Sky High Bevs when they are out wind flying. Trainers floating off the starting stand during fueling being held in place with a hand on the wing top??
I had to show a student how to fly in wind once, when Igave him control of the plane he turned into the wind and started yelling dead stick because the plane came to a halt in mid air, by the end of the day he almost had it figured out.
The plane itself is a key factor in the wind. Trying to fly a light weight ARF in the wind will show you the problem with that lighter is better thinking ARFers have been trying to tell people, a kit built plane of the same size and model will have far fewer problems handling the wind.
Different types of planes will handle differently, pattern type of planes and most IMAC planes don't know it's blowing, a high winger will get pushed around a lot.
Ifly up to 15 mph without problems but after that it tends to start being more work then fun. After 15 mph Ihave to take my planes apart on the leeward side of the van. Last week my rolling flight box was blown over, that's always a big mess!!!
Wind is your friend!! Up to a point!!