Am I a wimp or what.....
#1
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (17)
Am I a wimp or what.....
Woke yesterday morning to find overcast yet calm conditions. Got daughter up and over to her mom's, then off to the field at around 8:30. Still seemed nice, so I went out and set up airplane, range check, etc got engine started. Taxxied out to the runway, hmm, there's a gust, there's another gust, and of course it's a direct crosswind. I putterd up and down the runway a time or two, thinking. I was only one out there, and I'm not QUITE a beginner, and I've flown the WM SS 40 in winds before, but yesterday.... It would calm down, then out of the blue would come a gust of about 15 mph or so, enough to weathervane the plane on the runway. So I made the decision, and taxxied back to the pits. Then started the second guessing. But in the end I packed up and went home, hoping for better conditions today.
Nope.
Forecast 25-35 mph winds, colder, just plain nasty.
GRRRRR.
If one of the old guys had been there, I would definetly have gone up, at the very least I'd have someone to talk me through a really gusty landing.
I must have made the right decision because:
1. My plane came home in one piece
2. I had no fun.
3. I've been doubting myself all weekend.
<sigh> sometimes I hate being an adult..
Andy
P.S thanks to all the well-wishers about my finger... its' healing up just fine, should get stitches out Tuesday.
Nope.
Forecast 25-35 mph winds, colder, just plain nasty.
GRRRRR.
If one of the old guys had been there, I would definetly have gone up, at the very least I'd have someone to talk me through a really gusty landing.
I must have made the right decision because:
1. My plane came home in one piece
2. I had no fun.
3. I've been doubting myself all weekend.
<sigh> sometimes I hate being an adult..
Andy
P.S thanks to all the well-wishers about my finger... its' healing up just fine, should get stitches out Tuesday.
#2
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas, TX
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
I wouldn't call it being a wimp,i went to a fly-in yesterday and there was a lot of experience out there but when the wind came up they stayed on the ground and enjoyed talking to everybody.Seems it just makes good sence to me.
Now i'm mad because some of the members there asked me why didn't i bring my plane,they woulda buddy boxed me but it was my first "other club" i was invited to and didn't know what to expect,o well,next time.
Now i'm mad because some of the members there asked me why didn't i bring my plane,they woulda buddy boxed me but it was my first "other club" i was invited to and didn't know what to expect,o well,next time.
#3
My Feedback: (35)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Bowling Green,
KY
Posts: 2,497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
The best in the world know when not to fly. That day you went home with your plane in one piece because you did't like the weather, you took a big step in becoming good. Never let the guys talk in into flying if you don't feel right. They won't be the one going home with a trash bag for a plane. Push youself to be better on those days when you feel real froggy.
Dennis
Dennis
#6
Senior Member
My Feedback: (50)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mira Mesa, CA
Posts: 5,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
nah
I fly everything all the time- but that is not necessarily the proper way to go about this "flying" thing!
Never second guess...
What would you be thinking about if you had flown and crashed because of the wind? Would that be worse than what you are thinking about now?
At least it is in one piece so it can fly another day---
Never second guess...
What would you be thinking about if you had flown and crashed because of the wind? Would that be worse than what you are thinking about now?
At least it is in one piece so it can fly another day---
#7
My Feedback: (10)
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
I'm with you A. I just finished a winter build and am beside myself wanting to fly it. But March"s gusty winds cost me a nice Corsair two years ago. You're not a wimp, give the weather a couple weeks and everything will be great. That Super Stunts is a blast in a consistent wind though.
Stick with your gut and leave the gusts alone.
Stick with your gut and leave the gusts alone.
#8
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
I think you made the right decision. I once went out with my Sig Kadet Senior on a very windy day. Two other more experienced fliers leaving the field suggested that I not fly and save it for a better day. Well I had my heart set on flying, and continued to setup. Got my motor started, did a range check and then just stopped and thought about that gusty wind. It would have been nuts to go up. I shutdown the motor and cleaned up and went home. Good decision, because I still have the plane intact. I got some fesh air and still had some fun. There will always be another day.
Knowing your limitations and erroring on the side of caution is an important thing to learn. Your instincts that day said it just wasn't a good idea, and I think it was correct.
Knowing your limitations and erroring on the side of caution is an important thing to learn. Your instincts that day said it just wasn't a good idea, and I think it was correct.
#9
Senior Member
My Feedback: (145)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Picayune, MS
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
The nicer the plane, the less I'll fly it in windy conditions.
I will fly in windy conditons, as I think it make you a better
Pilot. But most times I do not enjoy it, as Mother Nature
starts messing with your airplane moving it where you dont want
it to go.
You did the right thing. I would have stayed on the ground as
well.
I will fly in windy conditons, as I think it make you a better
Pilot. But most times I do not enjoy it, as Mother Nature
starts messing with your airplane moving it where you dont want
it to go.
You did the right thing. I would have stayed on the ground as
well.
#10
Senior Member
My Feedback: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Kennesaw,
GA
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
The wind here was about borderline for me saturday. I'm building my first kit and need servos and a new engine. This made it easier for me to decide to fly. I guess I'll have to buy a new engine and servos since I didn't plow it into the runway.
#11
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
As I have heard a full scale pilot say " I would rather be down here wishing I was up there than up there wishing to be to back down here". The wind this spring has been really strong. I have taken off from work twice to fly only to have the wind get up and not get to fly. Oh well summer will be here soon.
#12
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
Would it be a SPAD you really wouldn't care,,like I don't ,I flew it in a wind and banged it around and crashed from about 50-75 yards down about 6 times before i had to fix it. My spad just way too heavy for the .61 i power it with,otherwise,gust wouldn't hurt .
SPAD RULES
SPAD RULES
#13
Senior Member
My Feedback: (16)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Locust Grove,
GA
Posts: 12,942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
While some may consider you a wimp, you are smart enough to know not to exceed your capability. The better part of valor is to not fly and return when you are comfortable.
#14
My Feedback: (4)
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
I think you did the right thing too. There are times when you just know that it's not a good idea; listen to that voice. There will also be times when the conditions are borderline for your experience, you'll feel confident, and you'll expand your experience level by flying.
I consider myself a half way decent, intermediate pilot, and have learned to judge by the swaying of the trees when I shouldn't even bother going to the field. I also watch the weather reports, and if they say 15 to 20 mph winds I don't go. If they say 10 to 15, it'll depend on how I feel and what I have ready to fly.
Dennis-
I consider myself a half way decent, intermediate pilot, and have learned to judge by the swaying of the trees when I shouldn't even bother going to the field. I also watch the weather reports, and if they say 15 to 20 mph winds I don't go. If they say 10 to 15, it'll depend on how I feel and what I have ready to fly.
Dennis-
#16
Senior Member
My Feedback: (50)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
If they say 10 to 15, it'll depend on how I feel and what I have ready to fly.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: coal township, PA
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
"A mans gatta know his limitations." Truer words were never spoken. You made the right call. If you are alone and or uncomfortable. Don't fly, It is better to not go when you feel this way. Don't second guess, you made the right call.
Mark Shuman
Mark Shuman
#18
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Troy,
MI
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
I have an suspision that if you were dubious of your ability to fly in the wind, you might have been nervous and crashed/landed by accedent. My instuctor once told me that if you were nervous about flying, unless you are always nervous (in which case this won't help anything) it is better not to fly if you feel to nervous. You might end up making some BIG mistake.
All in all, I think you did the right thing.
All in all, I think you did the right thing.
#19
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Central,
AR
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Am I a wimp or what.....
I agree with the many other posts.... you should be alright about your choice not to fly. At the time you felt it was the "right" decision...don't second guess it. Flying when you are lacking confidence or doubting your capability is at best no fun, and at worst may leed to dumb thumbing and result in a broken plane. I believe we all need to learn to handle some wind. Some of us will test our skills against stronger gustier winds than others would. Whenever the winds are gusting or swirling across the field, one of the old axioms driven into me during my full scale pilot training always comes to mind..... "Takeoffs are optional, but landings are mandatory."