Flying in the wind

[psindrup]

Flying in the wind with the Gaui 200, is actually not too bad. :)

Today I needed my heli-fix, and my T-rex 500 is grounded due to my first crash, so I took the little Gaui outside in 5m/sec. of wind, just to "try"

Normally I practice FF in front of myself, trying to get ready to full figure-8, but today I just lowered my "level of ambition" to maintain a steady hover tail in.

It is still such a rush to fly this little thing. ;)

Peter

[Gr4yb3ard]

Good to hear progress!

I'm doing better in the wind as well. more 7-10mph wind flights as I get tired of the constant, depressing, weather reports ;-(

What does not crash us, makes us stronger, yes?

Gr4yb3ard
"...Yah te Heh!...

[SurfCity]

What does not crash us, makes us stronger, yes?

Yes! Had some good, gusty winds tonight (and I'm still learning -- like, totally zoned on -- tail-in hover; that's what a newbie I am), and the heli would periodically jitter-jump up and down like I was pitch pumping. Zowie! If this happened at a moment I had it banked (as in making a correction), it would take off across the field like a dart. I'm getting better at catching it, though, and reeling it back in before it gets very far, even in the wind. Been through a dozen packs in a row now without incident. Baby steps.

[crabfu]

yup, sure gets exciting in the wind!

-Crabfu

[psindrup]

yup, sure gets exciting in the wind!

-Crabfu

Yes, but I need my fix. :smokin:

Try to tell a junkie that he has to wait for "better weather" until he can get his next shot!
No can do - dude! :YeaBaby:

Peter

[Gr4yb3ard]

Hah!

Loud as I seem, I'm pretty careful.

Had a tough experience with turbulence and the 200 a few weeks ago, so I pick my days as best I can.

But it's getting better. I'm getting better, heli's getting better..

FWIW with big airplanes, I used to fear the wind. My instructors just flat drilled it into me. Slip!, Crab! Watch that G****** wingtip!

About 15yrs ago, I got stuck (up) with t-storms marching all around. Low on fuel, I had to land in a 45mph 90d crosswind. Got her down, and got a parade of help to hang onto the struts and bring her into the hanger. Congratulations & Free Beer!!!! I heard no end of it, finally had to issue a *big* disclaimer and that wet-blanket reverse-peptalk.

Scared the hell out of me, but I know what's do-able now. So, I pick my days, ...in anything...
It's all about experience...

Gr4yb3ard

[SurfCity]

FWIW with big airplanes, I used to fear the wind. My instructors just flat drilled it into me. Slip!, Crab! Watch that G****** wingtip!

About 15yrs ago, I got stuck (up) with t-storms marching all around. Low on fuel, I had to land in a 45mph 90d crosswind. Got her down, and got a parade of help to hang onto the struts and bring her into the hanger. Congratulations & Free Beer!!!! I heard no end of it, finally had to issue a *big* disclaimer and that wet-blanket reverse-peptalk.

Gr4yb3ard, you bring back memories! I recall taking touch-and-go crosswind landings as a challenge (hey, I was 18 and my brain wasn't fully formed). Cessna 172. I'd crab one, straightening only at the moment of touchdown. Timing had to be perfect; if you touched down still sideways you'd practically bend the struts off the plane. Then I'd slip the next one, landing on one wheel. Woo! Those were my favorites. Big eyes, high adrenalin. This was in Reno, Nevada, elevation 4,400 ft., so approaches were flat and hot, too, sometimes 70-knot ground speed at touchdown. Those hot afternoon "Washoe Zephyr" crosswinds were often 30 knots. We'd sometimes go out and practice on dirt strips in the desert. Clouds -- whirlwinds -- of dirt! What a hoot! Your 45-mph crosswind, though, that's heroic. Beer, yes! And I'll bet your strut-hangers were happy to have their plane back, too!

[Gr4yb3ard]

I was more than happy to have myself back.

"I learned about flying from that...." as they say.

Yeah, the 172, man at a 30knt x-wind at that elevation, you had your hands full, and that's not a forgiving bird in the slew... (KerChing! $160,000) Ask me why I like taildraggers ;-)

One of my instructors got me some 767 time in the simulator years ago. He got a little mean and threw the book at me. Funny, sometimes I'd plow in with relatively good conditions, and then I'd grease one at the <fatal> setting.

I did the re-creation of the shear accident of a flight landing at DFW in the '80's and managed to handle it, but came away feeling like it's all a matter of timing, skill, and lots of luck. After these two experiences, I've never indulged in trying to (judge) a pilot again.

The nice thing about heli's is,..... ...there's no seatbelts and no passengers!!! ;-)

Gr4yb3ard

[psindrup]

Graybeard

Thanks for your "story"

What I am saying with the Gaui 200, is: Instead of staying indoors when it is not absolutely calm, I will still try to fly - lower my "ambition" - and take a steady hover as the challenge instead side-in, and FF.


Peter

[wlfk]

take a steady hover as the challenge instead side-in, and FF.

You know you can hover when you feel a gust of wind in your face, then realise you already made the correction

K

[Gr4yb3ard]

Understood,

I guess what I'm getting at is that we should all just "go for it".

There are heli's to be flown, and we're not gettin' any younger...

Gr4yb3ard