28 MPH wind and hovering (at least trying) isn't fun!

[chilipepper]

I'm just finishing up my first gallon on a Raptor 50 and hoving is getting pretty natural in all oriantations. Since I can't seem to let the heli sit in the basement all by itself I've been out flying it at every chance I can get. I has been really cold (30's) and so I've been looking for any opportunity I can to get it in the air.

Today it was in the 50's BUT the wind was a pretty gusty (28 MPH) seeing as how wind is basically a way of life here I thought I would have to get used to it sooner or later. Well talk about a handful!! I turned it nose into the wind and staying in one place was not really the problem it is keeping at a stable altitude. I've not gone much over 3-4 feet and between the gound effects and wind you have to be pretty active on the collective/throttle to try and do any good.

I assume this is just the way it is but what really is the practical limit on wind speed before it just isn't safe/practical to be out flying?? I assume the limit is somewhat proportional to experience.

On a side note: Damn this is a fun freakin' hobby!! (no pun intended!) :^)

[porsche]

You are right about the wind and experience, however CF blades make it easier. Alan

[WillJames]

Flying in wind will definitely teach you some collective management pretty fast. Good for you!!

[chilipepper]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like it will be in the 50's again today and the wind will be WAY more manageable (5 MPH or so..) I'll try and get out and get a couple of good flights on after work and before the temps start dropping too far down.

Thanks again!

[chilipepper]

What makes the CF blades handle the wind better??? Lighter? Stonger? both?

Thanks!

[diyman]

Wow you have got guts.
Im new to flying and tried to start in the wind,well about 10 mins later i was going home with my helicopter in a carrier bag. :arggg:
So i have rebuilt it and gone on the simulater for a bit.
Im waiting for a still day before i try again.
Like you it always seems windy here so i will have to learn to fly in the wind.Which is a good thing because if you can fly in the wind you can fly more times.
Best of luck,Brian.

[chilipepper]

diyman,

Sorry to hear about your heli...that is a major bummer!! I've practiced on the sim with the wind turned on and with it also fairly gusty and I believe it really helped me out. Since you really have to work both sticks quite a lot compared to without wind I wanted to get comfortable with that on the sim first. There is still no comparison to the real thing and it is definately different than on the sim! (mostly because your nerves are directly connected to your pocket book! :) )

I'm still curious as to why CF blades would be better for windy conditions?

Happy flying!

[diyman]

chilipepper,
I didn't mind that much about crashing,well not untill i found out how much it would cost to repair :lol: .I think if i crash again i will be a bit more cheesed off. :bomb:
Looking back on the crash,i think i panicked and i read a post today on learning to fly.I had what was called spectator attack.This is where you turn from flying the helicopter to suddenly just looking at the helicopter and not doing anything :shock: .
I should have put a bit more throttle on and that would have given me more time.(instead of less throttle :roll: )
The first time it lifts off the floor is quite worrying.I suppose is it like me driving a 45 ton articulated lorry.When i first learned it was a bit worrying but if i got in one now i wouldn't think twice.
Its good to hear how other people are getting on.You do learn as you go along and after a time you can get into a routine.
I have forgot to charge my battery's,ive run out of glow plugs and the last time i forgot to charge my glow stick so i couldn't start my heli.I'm not thick,well i don't think i am :lol: Like i say once i get into a routine i will be fine.
All the best,Brian.

[chilipepper]

I know exactly how you feel! Kind of funny you should mention getting into a routine. On an unrelated note I wanted to get a couple of flights in last night after work with one of my planes since I've adapted to flying those in the wind quite well and comfortably. Well I usually work until about 5 or so and while I was home for lunch I put all of the batteries on the chargers to top them off so I'd be ready when I got home to load up and head to the field (only about 2 miles from my house).

Well first off I didn't check my charger and it was set for 10 cycles as I was charging some RC car batteries for my son earlier. As luck would have it it just finished a discharge cycle. So I changed it to quick charge and thought I could still make it.... well now it is about 5:15 and we are off to the field. When I was loading up I noticed I forgot the glow starter and so I tucked it in the fuselage of the plane.... well I get to the field and get the wing rubber banded on and go to start itl.... you can guess ... starter is still in the fuselage.

I get the starter out and get ready to start it and it barely turns over... well the temp was about 30 degrees F at that point and the after run oil was so thick I could barely turn it over. I finally pulled the plug and got a little fuel in there and loosened things up... fired it up... took off... made about 3 circles around the field and it was already dark enough to where it made it very difficult to see the orientation of the plane. So I brought it in packed up and went home...all that for about 3 minutes of flying time.

I DEFINATELY NEED A ROUTINE!!! :)

BTW, too windy again today to go out so I'm back on the sim.

take care (sorry for the long post!)

[diyman]

Hi again,I'm going to have a go today at hovering.(Sunday)
I have had my battery's and glow stick on charge.I have 8 spare glow plugs,more fuel.Checked the helicopter and checked again.
I have been on the simulator for a few hours last night.
There is slight wind but cold at 5c.
So lets see what can go wrong now(or have i said something i shouldn't have now).

Regards,Brian.

[Hammer_40160]

Hello I'm new to flying I work in Kuwait and it is always windy here, but my Raptor is doing ok but I keep going through batterys all I get is 2 flights

[chilipepper]

Hammer,

How big of battery pack are you running on the receiver? I have been doing about 2 flights and then recharging out of paranoia from some of the posts I've read. I have a 1200 mAh pack and from what I've been reading heli's are pretty battery hungry. Powering 5 servos, one of which is digital and a gyro in theory would drink the juice. I just purchases a voltwatch meter for it to help keep a better eye on what condition the receiver pack is in.

I've been kind of stalled flying for the last couple of weeks with the cold and now in the last couple of days we had about 6 inches or so of snow. I'll try and report back as to what I'm getting?

BTW, one of the obvious things you might want to check is that your linkages are all freely moving. If one of them is stuck or tight it could suck a lot of juice trying to move it. I've witnessed airplanes with retracts that didn't close right on take off drain a whole pack in about 10 minutes while the servo tries to fully retract the gear.

Take care and happy flying!

[Hammer_40160]

chilipepper, I got a 1400 mAh pack on the 30 Raptor but I also running 5 digital servos it came with the radio, my freind sold me his crashed heli and he had a duralight battery on it so I put it on and it awesome I hovered 3 tanks of fuel and it still had plenty of juice left the radio will run out before the heli now. :D