Topic: Who has the Balls to go flying today

I know most people are back to work today, But if not would would be able to fly in the conditions out there today??

Details

What ever you do today be safe!

Will

ive just woken up to smashing glass. cant see anything within our property so im guessing next doors greenouse might have had it. this is the strongest wind ive whitnessed yet. will have to wait til daylight to see what its done.

nick nr paisley

Id put money on the Great Orme hitting 140mph today. Its been flown in 130 but there was a lot less wet stuff about!
I was there Jarting yesterday in the sunshine and 85mph!
Stupid hobby.

Andy

Constant 45knots with highest recorded gust of 60knots at Polruan Coastguard (opposite Fowey) today (recorded at 8:08).

Hoping it dies down later then off to a local inland slope.

Slowly easing here now. Earlier Mumbles Head off Swansea was recording wind at 55mph gusts up to 72.
Tommorrow's looking better with f/cast sunny spells winds 25mph =~45 mph on the slope.
Flying and landing is normally ok, it's the launching bit when you're on your own can be a probem!

Dramatic change here (Polruan) in the last 15 mins, average wind speed now around 20kn and the wind direction has swung from SW to WNW.

Barometer rising too.

Hope this means I can get out later. Mind you the rain has to stop first! Its still lashing down 

An rc submarine might be the order of the day round here at the moment.

An rc submarine might be the order of the day round here at the moment.

Yep it's the rain that's the problem, I have some lead sleds I would fly in and high wind conditions
But 100mph rain in  the face hurts like hell

Don't get me started on rain - I can't stand the stuff. We get more than our fair share of it in Cornwall.

It looks like its going to be washed out today and I've noticed that there are weather warning in place for more of the same tomorrow.

Bit brave of them (MO), they usually wait till after the event to post a warning then claim 80% plus success rate.

I did. gusting 40kts plus in Kerry. Didn't see Woodstock!

andy

Threads on flying model planes in strong wind speeds have appeared at regular intervals on an assortment of forums over the years. Most of the speeds mentioned have been believable, some improbable and a few of the recorded speeds must have been made in ‘Never Never Land’.   
The terminal velocity of a free falling human is aprox 120mph. This means that anyone standing in the full force of a wind gusting anywhere  around the 100mph mark would have to be tethered or risk been bowled over.  To hold a model up in the launch position in such a wind would take the grip of a full size gorilla not to mention the fact that if this model wasn’t made up of several layers of the finest carbon cloth the gorilla would only be launching part of a model. Finally, if the model  was successfully launched  and it was unable to hold a very large portion of a church roof, there would be an odds on chance of getting it in the Guinness Book of Records for the world’s  fastest flying Canard

on the above notes.
I once flew my AJ off the long man in over 80mph and no I could not stand nor launch, I hid in on the LOWER bridleway till I was ready then I slid down the bowl on my butt with the model on my lap, once in position I lay on my back with the model on my chest and just let go with a little upward momentum Note: the wind is NEVER constant and even in 100mph+ you will have times when it drops off allowing for launches, and even time to stand up briefly

I did try standing up a few times and ended up back on my butt every time
the model flew FANTASTIC and almost fit in my pocket for the walk back down 

I could not use crows to land as this would send the model in reverse quicker than I could fly forwards lol
and I could not get out of the lift as it is a bowl with a ridge and a dark side
I had to land in the bowl, the damage you see bellow was from hovering 6 inches off the ground and adding a tiny bit of down on the stick, hence wind hit the top of the wing and smashed her in the the slope

I'd planned on going to Colley Hill, Reigate, but it's been constant heavy rain here and wearing glasses and heavy rain don't mix.

Maybe even my heaviest foamies would not have stood up to the bigger gusts that well,  but the green parakeets, great tits and pigeons were still flying around feeding as usual, so it wasn't too much for THEM!  I think all the Blue Tits and Robins are in Belgium by now though!

Biggin Hill was recording gusts of 50 plus at the time I'd have gone, maxed at 57 the last time I checked.

Shoreham (Mill Hill) would have been blown out with little or no lift I expect, It's very unforgiving above 25, and while it has dropped back, its still 25-41 as I write.

We have had a brief lull in the rain mid pm but it's lashing down now

Threads on flying model planes in strong wind speeds have appeared at regular intervals on an assortment of forums over the years. Most of the speeds mentioned have been believable, some improbable and a few of the recorded speeds must have been made in ‘Never Never Land’.   
The terminal velocity of a free falling human is aprox 120mph. This means that anyone standing in the full force of a wind gusting anywhere  around the 100mph mark would have to be tethered or risk been bowled over.  To hold a model up in the launch position in such a wind would take the grip of a full size gorilla not to mention the fact that if this model wasn’t made up of several layers of the finest carbon cloth the gorilla would only be launching part of a model. Finally, if the model  was successfully launched  and it was unable to hold a very large portion of a church roof, there would be an odds on chance of getting it in the Guinness Book of Records for the world’s  fastest flying Canard

I'm happy to try and find the photo of my anemometer with 111mph on it at the Tinkers EPP60 BMFA event. And yes it did blow our most solidly built member over! Oh, and someone did fly!

I'm happy to try and find the photo of my anemometer with 111mph on it at the Tinkers EPP60 BMFA event. And yes it did blow our most solidly built member over! Oh, and someone did fly!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhLiAQkE9x4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhLiAQkE9x4</a>

I can't recall the details but I believe this is 90mph+

Edit: I found a comment saying it was 107mph, and Adam Richardson was involved with it somehow so may know more...

I'm happy to try and find the photo of my anemometer with 111mph on it at the Tinkers EPP60 BMFA event. And yes it did blow our most solidly built member over! Oh, and someone did fly!

Barry Barker told me of the bloke who landed on his Tx sticks. 105 mph I think he told me. 

Threads on flying model planes in strong wind speeds have appeared at regular intervals on an assortment of forums over the years. Most of the speeds mentioned have been believable, some improbable and a few of the recorded speeds must have been made in ‘Never Never Land’.   
The terminal velocity of a free falling human is aprox 120mph. This means that anyone standing in the full force of a wind gusting anywhere  around the 100mph mark would have to be tethered or risk been bowled over.  To hold a model up in the launch position in such a wind would take the grip of a full size gorilla not to mention the fact that if this model wasn’t made up of several layers of the finest carbon cloth the gorilla would only be launching part of a model. Finally, if the model  was successfully launched  and it was unable to hold a very large portion of a church roof, there would be an odds on chance of getting it in the Guinness Book of Records for the world’s  fastest flying Canard

O ye of little faith.

the high speeds are lip compression speeds, at staggy the other day we were getting 57, but away from the slope it was mid 30's
the carpark just behind the slope was in the high 20's
if you can launch out of the compression, it's fine.

Here ya go skirmish, I remember it well

Tinkers 111mph gusts of wind for BMFA EPP60 Pylon Racing

John

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhLiAQkE9x4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhLiAQkE9x4</a>

I can't recall the details but I believe this is 90mph+

Edit: I found a comment saying it was 107mph, and Adam Richardson was involved with it somehow so may know more...

Yep 107mph and that's me in the background flying while on crutches with a broken ankle at the time lol

Here ya go skirmish, I remember it well

Tinkers 111mph gusts of wind for BMFA EPP60 Pylon Racing


John

Thanks for sharing it, I was there and in the film lol  Its nice to see the film to remind me how bad it was. Thanks again 

Thanks for sharing it, I was there and in the film lol  Its nice to see the film to remind me how bad it was. Thanks again 

I've only managed to get to Tinkers 4 times since I discovered HDMAC and the lads a couple of months ago.  Now I'm a member - and it's suddenly off-limits. I've been robbed ......... 

Ro.

I'd planned on going to Colley Hill, Reigate, but it's been constant heavy rain here and wearing glasses and heavy rain don't mix.

Dave,  Gary (GP) went flying at Colley Hill today.  Quite eventful from the account of it he posted on the SE Flyers board!

Rain stopped play here (St Austell, Cornwall)

And I suspect rain will stop play tomorrow as well. I know this 'global warming ' thing means we are going to see more disturbed weather patterns and more rain etc. but surely the rain doesn't have to just fall on Cornwall and the UK does it? Wouldn't it be more useful over the Sahara or Namibia?

Much safer to stay indoors and do some building, and some flight sim stuff. Technology ehhh - int it grand. 

Hmmmmmm.... Not entirely convinced

?

About staying indoors I mean 

And that technology stuff, well, I do it every day. God I can't believe how this is getting me down - I must have caught that SAD thing whatever it is 

Please gentlemen no!
It's not who's got the b*lls, it's who's prepared to ignore years of experience and try to fly in totally unsuitable conditions.... this hobby is supposed to be FUN after all
In every club there is a chap, no names, no pack drill, who eggs people on to fly in conditions in which he won't actually fly himself....
He usually goes to the hill, puts the model together, eggs others on to TRY IT and waits 'til he sees plane after plane wrecked then goes home after not having flown, with a smug expression on his face and secure knowledge that he was right in NOT flying all along and that anyone who did fly was ignoring experience that should have told them not to....
Don't do it!
Regards
Pete

Please gentlemen no!
It's not who's got the b*lls, it's who's prepared to ignore years of experience and try to fly in totally unsuitable conditions.... this hobby is supposed to be FUN after all
In every club there is a chap, no names, no pack drill, who eggs people on to fly in conditions in which he won't actually fly himself....
He usually goes to the hill, puts the model together, eggs others on to TRY IT and waits 'til he sees plane after plane wrecked then goes home after not having flown, with a smug expression on his face and secure knowledge that he was right in NOT flying all along and that anyone who did fly was ignoring experience that should have told them not to....
Don't do it!
Regards
Pete

It is FUN or in another word "challenging" NO you would not find me launching my hanger queen off in 100+ a maiden in a 30+ of my new f3f plane seemed a little silly at the time 
but throwing off my P6 or Aldij FULLLLLLLLL of lead sounds great to me
no problems with energy retention on the Phase 6 pro, can pull EVER maneuver in the book just had to remember you will end a lot closer than you start lol, slope soaring is not all deck chairs and floaty models for me. I love it ALL!! form the calm and relaxing to the 5hitting your self when pulling a 130mph low pass , from the cross country summer walk to freezing my t1ts off in the snow.

Agree totally, flew last week with wind meter showing 79mph. Once launched the flying was great, no problem. It,s having the right kit for the conditions, been out twice this week in 45-55mph ,endless lift!!!

Another who agrees its a challenge, just got back from a couple of hours with the windspeed gusting to 70mph on my windmeter. Able to do vertical upward rolls with my shooting star full of ballest. Would of stayed longer if someone else had been about. That's what is great about sloping theres hardly a day you cant fly!

Scottish weather warning.....

Slopetrashuk wrote ~  ’O ye of little faith’

I’m not questioning that some guys flew their model s on the same day that their wind meters had registered winds gusting over 100mph. What I’m questioning is ~ were the model s actually flying or being launched at the same time these readings were taken because this was the impression given.

 I personally find it almost impossible to maintain my footing flying in winds gusting much over 50mps I’m also aware that you can reduce the affect of the compression zone found at the top of a hill by walking some yards down the front of the hill, but to try and launch from some shelter behind the actual lip like some videos I’ve seen, is courting disaster from the dreaded curl over. 

I think one of the main problems we slope soarers have in judging the true strength of the wind is caused by the Rose Tinted sunglasses we wear

Slopetrashuk wrote ~  ’O ye of little faith’

I’m not questioning that some guys flew their model s on the same day that their wind meters had registered winds gusting over 100mph. What I’m questioning is ~ were the model s actually flying or being launched at the same time these readings were taken because this was the impression given.

 I personally find it almost impossible to maintain my footing flying in winds gusting much over 50mps I’m also aware that you can reduce the affect of the compression zone found at the top of a hill by walking some yards down the front of the hill, but to try and launch from some shelter behind the actual lip like some videos I’ve seen, is courting disaster from the dreaded curl over. 

I think one of the main problems we slope soarers have in judging the true strength of the wind is caused by the Rose Tinted sunglasses we wear

It's only the launch and landing that are dangerous to your plane really - once it's up there it's just moving with the air.

Also, not all hills have bad rotor - and even on those that do it isn't necessarily right on the lip, I've not been to that many but I've seen several where the rotor doesn't curl down until a hundred metres or more behind the slope. So if you land near the edge, it's fine.

As for keeping your footing, what's your cross sectional area like? 

biggest problem i seen people have is getting to the lip holding the plane against the wind as it's wings bend, i just hold it behind me wings vertical and it's fine

Slopetrashuk wrote ~  ’O ye of little faith’

I’m not questioning that some guys flew their model s on the same day that their wind meters had registered winds gusting over 100mph. What I’m questioning is ~ were the model s actually flying or being launched at the same time these readings were taken because this was the impression given.

 I personally find it almost impossible to maintain my footing flying in winds gusting much over 50mps I’m also aware that you can reduce the affect of the compression zone found at the top of a hill by walking some yards down the front of the hill, but to try and launch from some shelter behind the actual lip like some videos I’ve seen, is courting disaster from the dreaded curl over. 

I think one of the main problems we slope soarers have in judging the true strength of the wind is caused by the Rose Tinted sunglasses we wear

50 mps, wow that is breezy.....

I do think the shape is very important. When the wind is going over your head, you can walk upto the lift, and then it blows you back and rips the model out of your hands.

I have and do believe that people have launched in these high wind strengths, using 2 people, the second supporting the first in his slip stream as it where.

And lead sleads fly in anything. The more the better. One day.

The right slope is key also from the point of turbulence, some slopes get very bumpey, and to me that takes the enjoyment out of the flight.

Get it all together is great.

Will

Who wishes he was venturing into the peaks tomorrow to enjoy soom of this blow! Work 

Slopetrashuk wrote ~  ’O ye of little faith’

I’m not questioning that some guys flew their model s on the same day that their wind meters had registered winds gusting over 100mph. What I’m questioning is ~ were the model s actually flying or being launched at the same time these readings were taken because this was the impression given.

 I personally find it almost impossible to maintain my footing flying in winds gusting much over 50mps I’m also aware that you can reduce the affect of the compression zone found at the top of a hill by walking some yards down the front of the hill, but to try and launch from some shelter behind the actual lip like some videos I’ve seen, is courting disaster from the dreaded curl over. 

I think one of the main problems we slope soarers have in judging the true strength of the wind is caused by the Rose Tinted sunglasses we wear

On the day shown with the Banana launch it most certainly was 107mph! Over to you Duncan!

But I'll agree - flying in mega conditions isn't all that enjoyable unless it's DS in which case you get to stand well out of the wind on the back of the hill, and only need venture to the front at launch and landing - actually very pleasant place to be. I've flown in big winds this way and really enjoyed it, but cannot imagine how it could be enjoyable standing in the frontside gale for the duration of a 20 minute flight!

Z

I suppose it's horses for courses
My wife cant understand how doing 193mph on a motorbike could be enjoyable
(the old bill were not to happy about it either)
and I guess like the high wind flying it depends on what parts you enjoy
and weather the + out weigh the -