When does the wind keep you grounded?

I have been flying electrics and I just bought a used .46 Avistar. I have flown it twice now on a day calm enough to fly my electrics. It is the same but different. . .

Today the wind was over 10 mph, maybe 15 with gusts up to 25 mph. The windsock at the field was straight out and moving in different directions. This is a day I would not even consider electrics. I finally chickened out and decided to not fly the Avistar and perhaps save some time and money in repairs.

What do you think?

25 mph? Good move, thats a lot of wind to fly in.


I usually draw the line at 15 mph.

I really like calm winds - 7-8 miles ok, 10-12 is just a lot of work.

If you can do well after 20 or 30 flights, and the right prop, a steady 20 and under is about the limit. And anything over 15 will have you on your toes when you have to make your turns, and have you sweating a little on landing. I would not try it if it was a cross wind on the runway.

It might seem like you're chickening out, but it's better to be down on the ground wishing you were flying then to be flying wishing you weren't.
As you gain experience with your avistar, you'll find that the wind bothers you less and less. I fly now on days when I would have stayed on the ground four months ago. The Avistar is not the best plane to fly in the wind. Too light, and all that dihedral makes turns an adventure.


Andy

That's a smart move. If you're uncomfortable flying in that much wind don't do it. It's not worth risking an airplane. There's always tomorrow or next weekend. Just remember, however, that the wind is your friend. If you stick with it long enough, in time, with the right aircraft, you will learn to like the wind. You may even begin to prefer it, as I have. 15 with gusts to 25 is about my limit. If it gets to be much more than that, I go home or just don't show up at the field to begin with. One important aspect of learning to fly in the wind is to fly regardless of the direction of the wind. There are guys in my club who show up Saturday morning and the wind is out of the south at 7/8mph. They fly and have fun. Sunday they return only to find the wind is again blowing at 7/8mph, but this time out of the north. They go home. That just amazes me. Why they won't take the time to learn how to take-off and land in the opposite direction is a mystery to me. Oh well. More room for me to bore holes in the sky.

Also, if you have someone experienced and willing/comfortable to take it up for you and then give control to you to see how it affects flying, it's good practice. But I agree with Wings....25MPH gusts are alot. No fun. You're trying not to crash it insted of flying . Better safe than sorry. Better to call it and have the plane to fly another day.


Adam

Gusts are the real problem. Have to be quick on the sticks when you hit a wild gust. If the windsock was changing direction that much I'd be leary to. Wind is fun to fly in though. I was actually gaining altitude with my engine at idle last time I was in high winds. Was fun pretending I had a sail plane. Basicly I quit if I'm getting tired or feel worn out from concentrating. Same feeling I get when I'm tired and can't drive well. Time to bag it.

Crosswind landings aren't really alot harder. (Yes harder,,, but not a tremendous amount)
Just keep some power on and land a little hot and you should be fine.

OK let me back up and say that with the avistar they might be kinda hairy if it's gusty. A steady breeze and the hotter landing should get you down in OK shape.

A little wind up or down the runway makes for fun and easier takeoffs and landings. Too much wind can still be flyable but takes all the fun out of it. You start a maneuver here and finish it over there somewhere. Not pretty. Landings can get real hairy too.

I am in my third year of flying and still need practice in the wind. I am ok with the wind down the runway or a little left or right of center, and can fly either a Nort or South pattern. However, I have problems in a striaight crosswind. I lost my Magic Extra 3 weeks ago to a 90* crosswind of about 20-25mph. Should have stayed on the ground, but decided to fly. I took off ok and hand no major problem until I tried to land. My first approach was about 45* to the runway and when I tried to straighten it out and land on the runway, it drifted quicly away from it. I aborted the landing and started up and to the right to go around. When the wing got 90* to the wind, a gust pushed it nose over tail toward the ground. I started to roll out of it, but had lost too much airspeed to recover and it went in nose first. Since most of the speed had been bled off, it basically crushed the fuse up to the wing front. Someday, I will rebuild the front, but for now, I purchased a Tower Hobbies Voyager and plan to practice side slipping in crosswinds. This is something that both my instructor and I agree was not practiced much during training. Listen to yourself, if you 'think' there is too much wind, then there probably is.

Remember, flying is supposed to be fun and no fun if you feel very uncomfortable. I flew in some powerful gust a few weeks ago. No fun. Was scared most of the time. You made the right decision!

I 100% agree with this post. Even if I could fly in strong winds, my experience has been that flying in lots of wind just required too much concentration to be fun and spent the whole time scared I would lose my plane. The fact that you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD or would enjoy doing that thing.

Fly in what you are comfortable flying in.

Wind can be fun, you just have to prepare for it. 1) Bring the Spad, leave the balsa safe at home. 2) Think about what you'd do if you dead sticked. In general, this means fly up wind most of the time. Take your most reliable engine. 3) Don't obsess about landings. Be happy if you put it down safely in the long grass. Land into the wind, no matter which way the runway runs (check with other flyers, if any, first!). 4) Be extra cautious of prop safety on the ground. Leaves and things will blow into the prop, and startle you, and the wind can lift the plane off the ground when you're not expecting it.

But assuming you can handle it safely, it can be a blast. I don't think I'll ever get tired of the rush you get when you're flying 20 mph (relative to the ground), and make the turn, and now you're going 60!

NOW your talking. I love the wind. It IS my friend. And it darn well better be...it blows a lot down here. When I was learning to fly, I showed up at the field one morning, and of course it was blustery. 15+. Anyway, I made the comment to my instructor, that it was pretty darn windy and maybe we should just go have some lunch and save it for another day. He looked at me in disbelief, and said "you want to be an rc pilot...RIGHT?" well of course I do. Duh! He told me to fuel my plane up, and take off. I did with great apprehension. That was the day I soloed. He told me I was graduated to fly in anything up to "gale" force winds. Well, I was still a little nervous after that, but in time with practice that feeling went away. NOW I don't give it much thought.
Learn to fly with the rudder and you will not fear the wind nearly as much. Most crosswind landings can be tamed by using it. And learning to slip is a very good idea as well. Personally I think it is easier to land in a steady 10mph wind. I am able to slow my landings WAY down. Calmer days usually have me landing a little hotter.

Yeah the wind does make you think... But they sure land a lot better INTO
the wind, it kind of just glides to touchdown.. At times no ground speed
And that really helps a "HOT" lander as myself... Crosses can be a chore..
And add thermals... Keeps your blood pumping:-)
But just remember SMALL moves and MOST the time you'll be alright.. It's
like this one old timer said to me.. Depending on the model... The plane has
no concern of the wind, it thinks it's going the same speed either way.. You
just have to learn to keep the plane thinking that way:-) But keep your eye
on your turns... It's just another learning curve... Though, it could be costing
you some $$$$$ if you don't pick up on it...

I agree with a lot of what's been said. If you think it's too windy for you to fly, it probably is.

Second, learn to use the RUDDER! I can't emphasize that enough. I was taught to use it almost as much as any other control, and the past couple of weeks have flown in winds 15 to 25, gusting to 30. And those were direct crosswinds. (You know the wind I mean. WHere you have to speak up a LOT for the guy standing next to you to hear what you're saying. )

I've been at it for 9 years now (as of this coming July 4th weekend), and it's been a progression of abilities in stronger and stronger wind.

Take your time, and push yourself a little. Just don't go way beyond your comfort limit.
Dennis-

I have a question DB,

A couple of weekends ago it was really windy. I am not sure exactly how windy it was, but it was a very nice clear sky day and I was the only one there if that tells you anything.

Anyway, I thought I'd use that time to try to get my crosswind landings down.

The wind was a total cross wind blowing away from me.

I found that as soon as I applied rudder the plane would immediatly jet like a dart towards the landing strip and I would overshoot it big time becuase of the air speed.

Are you supposed to approach the landing strip and a 90 degree angle untill you are fairly close, then use the rudder to spin it around and line it up? Or, are you supposed to get it lined up like a regular approach and use the rudder all the way in?

I line it up like a normal approach and use rudder to keep it heading straight. Also, I always try a few low passes to see how the crosswind is really effecting the plane. If the wind is blowing cross runway towards me, I generally start my approach a little on the opposite side of the runway. I would prefer to miss the runway on the oposite side then have the wind blow it close to me.

In general, as you are more confident try flying in more and more wind. I live in a windy area and every now and then when we have a calm day and after I fly for 5 minutes I wish there was some wind! Once you are comfortable with the plane and know how and when it stalls it is fun to try to fly into a strong wind making the plane fly at a walking pace or even backwards. In just the right wind I can bring my trainer down with almost no forward movement. I just keep my fingers crossed that the wind doesnt give out all of a sudden.

It was really windy. The only thing I wasn't comfortable about is that my engine sucks.. lol, I just ordered a new one.


But, the wind was blowing away from me... I started my approach WAAAAY to the outside. I would be coming in nice and slow and soon as would bring the rudder around to line up the plane it would take off like a bullet. I was kinda cool to watch. But I was missing the runway,


It was probably too windy to be flying anyway, but I think the way I was doing it was wrong. lol, but cool to watch.

I learned to fly in windy conditions so I'm not bothered by it. I learned quickly how to manipulate the rudder and ailerons especially in crosswinds. I was also flying a SIG Kadet ARF, which is a lightweight plane that’s easily buffeted by the wind. It all depends on what you get used to. If you only fly on calm days then you will only be able to fly on calm days.

A trainer plane isn’t all that expensive so if you wreak it beyond repair you’re not out that much. Engines are surprisingly tough and usually aren’t damaged in a crash. The prop may break but they’re cheap. If the radio gear is wrapped in foam properly it will also escape damage in most cases. You may lose a servo, but on a trainer plane you’re only talking ten or twelve bucks to replace it.

Another option as mentioned earlier is to build a SPAD. The Debonair SPAD is a 40-sized trainer that excluding engine and radio gear will only cost you about $25 to build. And this will give you enough material to build two planes. Plus, you can go from raw material to airborne in just two or three days. It weighs in at around six or seven pounds and handles wind very well. It also handles ground contact better than a balsa plane.

Wilbur and Orville didn’t let fear keep them from trying.

Hmm,

I for one think $100 + is a lot of money to throw away if you don't have to.

I don't think trainers are that much cheaper than other planes of the same size.

I think he did the right thing. I wouldn't fly in hardly any wind untill I got comfortable flying on calm days. It would be assinine to fly on a windy day if you are still iffy on calm days.

Just my opinion, kinda like a butt hole, everyone has one.


Wings

I can leave my house when it is calm as a cucumber and I'll get to the field and the flag will be sticking straight out. If it gets much above 10mph, it just isn't enjoyable for me.

I am new to planes, I have a NexStar but havent flown it yet
My question is What is a SPAD?
Thanks guys

Opps, a simple serch answered my own question.
Sorry