how much wind is generally too much?
 

I know beginers should fly in a light breeze, And experts can handle large gusts...I am just looking for a baseline for an intermediate pilot...so if the weather channel says winds 10-15mph for thursday...I can start planning my day lol

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

Since the airplane doesn't know there's any wind, the only gauge that matters is you.<div>
</div><div>All you can do is go fly, and keep track, and set your own limits.</div>

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

I am sure that you will get all kinds of answers on this, but most airplanes in the above five lb weight range fly well in 10/15mph winds.
As always the flying site has some influence on how much wind can be handled. If the winds are almost straight down the runway it is no problem as opposed to a 90 degree crosswind.
Anywhere you live on the North American Continent is going to have wind a some point so get out there and learn to enjoy flying in it.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

My wind speed limit is determined by the ground handling of a trike gear model.

Too much wind is when the model flips on itself whenever the tail is pointed upwind, while taxing. (This happens around 25 mph (40 km/h) wind for a 5~6 pounds trike, even with down elevator).

Normally, flying is not the problem in windy conditions, but the ground handling. (Except for too light, too draggy and underpowered models).

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

i was kind of thinking 10-15 was good for me...I have flown my foam Trojan in 25mph but that is just like flying an rc kite at that point LOL I don't go out with my Nitros unless its in the 5-15 mph range

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

I can comfortably fly in 25-30 mph winds. The question should be "what wind speeds can you land comfortably in....". http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...eeth_smile.gif

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

If the wind is straight down the runway and not gusty, even a beginner should be able to take off, fly, and land without trouble so long as the wind speed isn't higher than the plane's normal landing speed. The wind even makes landing easier, because your ground speed on final is low. Add a crosswind, and some experience becomes important. If the wind speed and direction are constantly changing, it stops being lots of fun at maybe 15 mph. Another factor is the environment at your field. I used to fly from a field that had a tree line running about half the length of the runway and parallel to it, on the north side. It was exciting when you had a north wind, because the trees would block it at low altitudes, but only to about the middle of the runway. So there's no simple answer. For beginners, I usually suggest about 12 mph, but as a guideline, not a fixed rule.

Air Sports Weather (www.usairnet.com) is a good forecaster of wind speeds, but they don't do gusts.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

Personal preference I shall say - but yes your models weight and the power you have at your dispossal also plays a big roll. I've seen a guy fly a big Tiger Moth in winds I would not even dare to take any of my models out into. Winds where Sticks flipped on landing and others struggled to get the planes onto the runway on a landing. I think if you can handle your model pretty well with all the controls - from elevator to rudder then you can fly in strong winds. Push yourself little bit by little bit. You will soon find out what your limit is. If you feel uncomfortable even before you are in the air then you know you should stay on the ground. I seldom take a plane up if I have any doubt.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

I find that anything over 15mph tends to flip my planes over on the starting bench. That's usually about my limit if I am planning on whether or not to go to the field on a given day. I always base my flying days by what it says on www.usairnet.com for my closest airport.

If I am at the field and the wind picks up, I'll pretty much fly no matter what. The only real hard part is landing. I'll leave my floatier planes in the car and fly one of my land-on-a-dime planes, or one of my don't-really-care-about planes.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

True wind speed is one of those mysteries for a lot of us. We put out a wind gauge at our field then asked everyone what they thought the speed was. Well, 5 is nothing like 15 but it wasn't any surprise how over estimated it really was. I watch the weather report and will still go out when it's forecast at 10 to 15 and enjoy myself. When it kicks up to the point my planes will no longer allow me to steer them back into the pits I pack it up. I have flown in some very high winds and had fun but sometimes it becomes more work then it's worth. It really is a pilots choice and how you feel about it. Different planes are a lot better in the wind then others too. I have flown trainers in wind so strong they couldn't go forward without diving. I only did that to show a young student it could be done and not to be afraid of the wind. It worked until he bought his own plane, then wind was an issue.;)

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

We have a weather station at the field which is transmitted over our web site. The wind indicator is Green from 0-15 Yellow 16-33 & Red 34-50.

The guys who set it up do a lot of flying including 225mph+ turbine powered planes.

I found that 10+ taxes my skills in a crosswind but is manageable when its down the runway. Gusting winds in the green zone are troublesome for me on landing.

Am looking at the video feed of the field right now with wind @ 13.8mph gusting to 17.3mph from the south which is straight down the runway & the big planes are flying

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

I'm pretty much a chicken s^^t pilot. I don't like flying in cross winds only because I just don't get out there often enough to fly in cross winds. So, I limit myself to flying at times that the winds are favorable to my flying style. I don't much mind if it's blowing 10-15 down the runway, but when there is a gust crosswind, I either don't go out or go home.

The reason I say this is because I realize my capabilities and don't push the envelope. If I get out more often this season, I'm sure that I will do more in more challenging wind situations, but for right now, I just don't push it. I like to bring my planes home so that I can fly again.

CGr.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

Wind limits are a personal thing. everyonehas their limits. Some planes handle the wind well, like my GP Reactor, and others do not. I have flown my Trainer in 40 mph gusts and it was a blast! Not something I would reccomend though as I came home with a busted out firewall. I actually enjoy flying ina crosswind as I have spent a ton of sim time working on my cross wind landings and I get alot of satisfation from puting a plane down in a stiff crosswind. I think i may be in the minority though!

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

about 15 mph is a good beginner speed,for me after that it becomes work,I am beginning to get into bigger planes so it may change, but 15 is good

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

when the plane can no longer move forward at full throttle your flying in to much wind, everything else is fair game. I've found flying in 30 mph winds to be somewhat entertaining, not something I would want to do every day but theirs something about flying a plane backwards that makes it worth the effort

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

Yep !

The Plane don't know it's windy.

Flying in the wind will make you
a better pilot.

JMO,

Bob

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

WOW thanks everyone for all the great imput, I guess it all depends on your visa limit too! lol

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

I flew for a wounded warriors project on base a few weeks ago and almost put my 1/3 cub in the trees from 25mph gust.We had a usual 15 mph cross wind and got a big gust as I was making a low fly by. I had my wing turned down into the wind but when that gust hit it it almost rolled the cub all the way over. I had all ailerons and rudder turned into it. Just keep this in mind if you have a larger plane with low wing loading. If you exceed your crosswind component with these models you may take it back to kit form.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

As long as it is a steady wind, the no go limit is as stated when the plane do not advance over the ground flying at full throttle into the wind.
If there is turbulence, it's no flying when the plane just get thrown around.
Then there is the consideration about ground handling of the aeroplane.

The slope soaring pilots will fly in more or less anything as long as they don't get blown of the slope themself.
(Wearing ski masks and with short TX antennas, the wind do break ordinary TX antennas. The planes are heavy and fast, landings are one point only.)

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

In addition to what has been said about wind speed,cross-winds,gusts......I notice some days have much more turbulence than others. I flew yesterday and I believe the winds were probably gusty from around 6 to 12mph. But there was some crazy turbulence. I'd be flying along straight and level,when suddenly the plane would go to knife-edge with no input from me. I've flown in these conditions before,but it certainly keeps you on your toes. And several of my landings were rough. Even dipped a wingtip into the asphalt with my low-wing at one point(doing touch-n-goes). So there are many variables and sometimes you get to the field and find the conditions more difficult than expected. Flying in gusty conditions is good practice,but can be risky if you're trying to keep your planes pristine. Generally speaking though,I find it most fun to fly when the wind is below 15mph and straight down the runway. In a cross-wind,even 10mph can be a challenge on landings.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

How much wind is too much?

When it reaches a level that makes flying the plane no longer fun for you.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

I think 15 mph is a good number...you'd better get used to flying in some wind as if you don't you're gonna miss out on a lot of great days.

Like combatpig said..if it's no longer fun then it's too windy.

I have flown my beaters in 30 mph + winds where I've had to land at 1/2 or 2/3 throttle. This is fun, but then again if I stuff my beater I don't really care...

More valuable planes are reserved for less windy days.

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

Depends on the pilot skill set and what is being flown... A heavily ballasted sloper can handle 35... and an indoor only foamy, A/C type breezes! with that said.. a rank beginner will want 10 on the slope and 0 mph coming from the A/C ducts. ;)

THe stronger the wind.... the less holes and more constant. This usually occurs near 20 + mph... And yes, the airplane doesn't know it's windy.. but they sure do like it more when it's not!

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

I don't mind 20Mph but I hate wind gusts and here in my state you get a lot of wind gusts, yet we get some days of doldrums too

RE: how much wind is generally too much?
 

Over here in lancaster ca it always seems to be windy its like 15 mph to 30+ mph gust mostly all day but I dont let it stop me I fly my 40 size extra 300s and spitfire in these conditions all the time, its funny when I get a rare day with no wind at all im not used to it. It feels weird and kind of boring lol nothing like getting blasted downwind by a 30+ mph downwind =D