I regularly fly my 9 oz foam correctly trimmed plane in 15-20 MPH winds with no ill effects...

Bet your sorry you asked Wow 4 pages of my idea is better that your idea[&:] It's really simple, move what you can up front and then add weight, then go fly and have fun Any time you ask a bunch of old guys like myself "what do you think" your gonna be sorry![X(]

A true story ___

We have a fellow at our flyng field that never seem to use the runway.
He is flying a Yak with a real big engine. No engine cowl for him (for his airplane).

I have seen him many times start his engine, warm it up half a minute or so put the nose straight up and give it full throttle and let go. The model goes straight up.

He then do lots of 3d stuff a low altitude, then let the tail come to just touch the ground, slowly reduce power an let the plane lay down right side up.

He just landed.

All kinds of ways to have fun.

Zor

Isn't that a helicopter's soul trapped in the body of an airplane?

Yep... I'm thinking some variation of a helicopter.

I haven't followed this thread but just read the whole... some interesting stuff here but the words that comes to mind after reading the whole thread in one setting is "its all fun".

Examples tend to be gross to make points and I'll agree that the one I'll offer is a bit gross. Most will remember Hanger 9's Ultra Stick 1.20. Many put more than a 1.20 engine on them because at 12.5 lbs, many didn't think they were that much fun to fly. Then Hanger 9 redesigned it into a Lite version 2.5 lbs lighter and at ten pounds but otherwise the same air frame it became a very fun plane to many who otherwise hadn't liked it. Both versions flew and many of each still fly and are valued. I fly a Lite and a friend at the field flies the original... the difference is primarily agility, which includes several sub areas such as vertical and crow mode performance. Crow mode on the original just doesn't do near what it does to the Lite version.

A good bit hinges on what we want from the plane. My friend does not climb as much to do various versions of spins as I do. He doesn't mess with crow mode and I like playing with it. He does have flaps and his flaps down landings are about the speed of my no flaps landings and my flap landings are about walking speed.

So... there are no wrong answers... its all fun.

Wow, 4 pages already and just about adding a couple ounces of lead to get the CG. Impressive.

Hi guys,

Just a few comments for anyone's evaluation.

In your minds, do the following evaluations and visualization.

Case 1 ___
A light foam model weighing8 oz (1/2 lb), the air is absolutely calm. The small model has very light wing loading and the balance is perfect. It flies beautifully.

Case 2 ___
The same model as in case 1 above. The only difference is that now the wind is blowing a steady 50 mph but there is absolutely no wind turbulence.

My mind is telling me that it flies just as well as in case 1 but the wind is much faster than the max speed of the model so it will just keep moving away.

Case 3 ___
The same model again but now the wind is light at less than an average of 10 mph but in my flying area herehas many strong thermal updrafts and of course their surrounding downdrafts.

Hey ... I see my light model doing a dance jumping up and down. I try to fly figure eights at constant height (steady altitude). The atmosphere is very turbulent and I have to be very alert and quick on the controls (which does not meanflipping the transmitter sticks like toggle switches) . It is nice that the CG is well whitin limits for the model and I keep a speed reasonaly well above stall. I am having real fun flying this little thing but it is hard work.

Case 4 ___

I am a bit tired now from flying this little jewel in that turbulent atmosphere.
Let me have another flight but this time with that ugly sport plane that weigh in at 10 lbs. It is also well balanced and its CG also within limits.

Ghee . . . it looks like these thermals might even be worst now. I can also feelgusts on my face and the wind increasing in speed. I am guessing that the average wind now is at least 15 to 20 mph. These gusts likely reach over 30 mph.

Still I am flying the similar figure eights patterns and maintaning level flight without any problems.
I need very litle transmitter stick movements. This plane really has much better penetration and is barely affected by the turbulence.

Ah! ___I can fly now fully relaxed and just wait for other particiants in this thread to come out with their viewpoints.

Case 5 ___

Time to go home and have a good meal. The heck with this storm that was on its way here and now rattling the windows.

Tomorrow is another flying day to enjoy . . . . . . .

Zor

Well I moved my reciever battery to between the firewall and f2. I then made 2 , 1" diameter 2 oz weights. I mounted them to the firewall via bolt and blind nut. The trick is they protrude into the backplate of the engine, but not touching. This way the weights can never fall out unless the engine goes first. Now I'm ready to lateral balance, then in a week or two maiden

Thanks all! Nick