Flying Patterns in the Wind

I have been learning the pattern trying to get ready to enter this years contest season. But I just can't seem to improve when flying in windy conditions. The plane feels so different and the stunts are so much harder to control. I feel confident on how to position in the wind. I'm really having problems with the vertical 8, it really feels loose at the top.

I took some advice and reduce the lap times to help with penetration, but I'm not sure it helped.

Any advice that can help??

>I have been learning the pattern trying to get ready to
>enter this years contest season. But I just can't seem to
>improve when flying in windy conditions. The plane feels so
>different and the stunts are so much harder to control. I
>feel confident on how to position in the wind. I'm really
>having problems with the vertical 8, it really feels loose
>at the top.
>
>I took some advice and reduce the lap times to help with
>penetration, but I'm not sure it helped.
>
>Any advice that can help??

Remember, wind is one thing, turbulence is another. Is your wind, even if strong, clean?

What is your ship and engine, lines, etc? Pipe?

Is tension at 45 deg as good as on level? If not, maybe d putinhg the leadouts a little aft might help.

Funny, my "killer" is the horizontal eight. If I don't place it 100% right...

I sugest you try these:
you can:

give the model some more power. OR

Make the bottom loop normal, and a smaller upper one. As you get confident, bring it to the zenith.

A 4-2-4 setup might not be the ideal.

Try a 2-2-2.

I don't see why the plane should get "loosse on the tpo, the wind ison your side...

What about the other maneuvers?

GBA!

This season I flew in stronger winds than I had before. I only have a few maneuvers so far - wingover, inside consecutive loops, lazy-8, inverted flight. What I found, particularly with the inside loops, is that the plane seemed to really accelerate going over the top of the loop. That was unexpected, and a real challenge to my (still-developing) skill...

Tim

Yes I agree the plane really seems to zoom on the back half of the loops. Not sure how to stop that.....

>Yes I agree the plane really seems to zoom on the back half
>of the loops. Not sure how to stop that.....

If its that windy you wont stop it, but you will increase your reaction time and upper body strength!

>Yes I agree the plane really seems to zoom on the back half
>of the loops. Not sure how to stop that.....

Metrolina Control Society,

As you alluded earlier in the thread, maneuver placement in the wind is very important. Referring specifically to your acceleration in the inside loops I suggest you try the following.

Spend the laps between the wingover and the insides carefully evaluating the direction of the wind. As you pass by downwind on the lap prior to starting the insides pick a landmark 10 or 15 degrees past directly downwind. Next time around start your insides at that point. If you haven't offset far enough into the wind the loops will still accelerate as you've mentioned. If you've gone to far they will not accelerate but will get a little loose on the entry and try to climb on the pull out.

Adjust the point at which you start the maneuver and see if you can't find a relationship to the wind which moderates the acceleration without distorting the shape of the maneuver.

A number of years ago I wrote an article for Stunt News called Fly Like a Champion where I discussed at length the effects of flying in winds and my personal opinions about dealing with it in each of the maneuvers. This article (it might have been a two parter, I don't remember exactly) should be available from PAMPA PRODUCTS. Curt Nixon is the man for these reprints.

Please be aware that there are a whole lot of things that go into the complete solution to wind flying, including engines, props, CG locations and more. I encourage you to seek out articles written over the years that address these issues.

Ooops.

I forgot your first post addressed problems with the vertical eight. Here's a thought or two.

Realize that when the wind is blowing hard the direction your fuselage points won't always be a true indication of the flight path of the airplane. Think of crossing directly across a fast moving river in a canoe and you'll note that the craft has to be pointed well into the flow to maintain the desired 90 degree track across the river. Same thing with your tethered stunter.

What this tells us is that when completing the first inside loop and transitioning to the upper, outside loop the actual track of the airplane when the fuselage is parallel to the ground will already be tracking earthward.

In order for our flight path to continue the desired ascent through the intersection it is necessary to transition into the outside before the fuse is parallel to the ground. The harder the wind is blowing the earlier you need to begin the transition.

This is really handy info because once you realize and accept it you'll start the outside at a point where the wind will actually help you do the upper loop. It will accelerate you uphill.

If you wait too long (likely what is happening with you) the acft's track will be already accelerating downhill and that descent will have to be arrested and reversed before you start tracking in the desired direction. Doing so will require lots of power, develop lots of drag and cost you lots of speed. Speed equals line tension. Loss of line tension means loss of control. Sound familiar?

Try this experimentally first and don't worrry about the quality of the eight. Just experiment with how the wind can actually help you rather than hinder you. Every time you fly the verticals in the wind it will be a judgement call on your part as to when to reverse course and still make the eight round on the top and bottom. That's what us pilots get the big bucks for!

Good luck.

I would have to disagree with Ion. Try moving your leadouts FORWARD 1/8 inch. On getting rid of the windup in the inside loops, try some different props. Prop can make a lot of difference. Have you timed your upright and inverted laps? I'm thinking that if you run a tenth or two faster inverted, you will have more windup on the insides than on the outsides. And vice versa.

Thanks to everyone.

I will try the tips listed here this weekend, I'm sure they will help!

LAST EDITED ON Jan-29-04 AT 06:35 AM (CDT)
 
Dont expect too much precision at first. Get some experience in progressively windier conditions. Just keep it out of the ground.

You may find, as I did, that with more handle time in the breeze, you will gain more confidence in the plane's ability to continue on. THis will give have the effect of relaxing you and reduce your tendency to overcontrol.

Over control is always rough on the energy management--in the wind it can be deadly, especially on top.

You're going to be amazed at what the plane will actually do when you loosen up on it!

Been there, AM there!

Curt

PS: That article by Ted is awesome!

If you'll get to fly this weekend, I'm jealous. The way things are looking here, it'll be at least 2 months before there's any chance to fly.

"... And it seems to me, you flew your flight
Like a Pattern in the Wind..." (Sorry, Elton John...)

Tim

Lack of line tension at the top???? Sounds like improper power to weight ratio.