Sad

We have tried using a great little park that is a 2 minute drive from my house. It seems to be vacant usually when we go out on Sundays. The grass is short and the whole field is fenced. Perfect in almost every way.
However,if there is the slightest breeze blowing, it seems to change direction with every lap and there are some incredible downdrafts which have made me come within a few inches of losing a few planes.
I know there isn't anything we can do about this but I just wondered if anyone else had experienced similar fields.
We will be flying somewhere else this afternoon. Darn.
Norm

Here in N. Tx, we experience that type of wind ALL THE TIME. You just have to get used to it. I have flown so much in treacherous wind that I hardly know what to do on a still day (very rare). Some planes can handle the wind better than others. Generally larger, heavier types do well, though my Sterling Yak 9 (with Fox .35) does fine in the swirling winds.

YAK 9!!!! Yikes! That's the plane my buddy first built when he was a kid!
He put dihedral into the wings and I always kidded him about it...but the darned thing did fly!
He CLAIMS that he is going to build another one...yawn...we'll see!
Your Texas winds are probably something like the Saskatchewan winds I grew up with. Except they didn't seem to be treacherous...just constant and high!
What makes yours so treacherous? Trees? Cactus?
Norm

>YAK 9!!!! Yikes! That's the plane my buddy first built when
>he was a kid!
>He put dihedral into the wings and I always kidded him about
>it...but the darned thing did fly!
>He CLAIMS that he is going to build another
>one...yawn...we'll see!
>Your Texas winds are probably something like the
>Saskatchewan winds I grew up with. Except they didn't seem
>to be treacherous...just constant and high!
>What makes yours so treacherous? Trees? Cactus?
>Norm

Crawdad holes...
Every darn thing in sight in other words. U.S. Grant once wrote that if he owned both H*ll and Texas, he'd rather live in H*ll and rent Texas out...

Jake

Hi

Yes I have encounded such things.

Is this field in a sheltered hollow or have a steep slope on one side?
You may find that the prevailing wind direction makes a huge difference to these effects. Sheltered fields can be prone to macro turbulance effects seen locally as wild windshifts, reverse directions down droughts shears gusts etc. These effects are usualy the result of surrounding landform shape.

The best wind shelter is trees because the wind passes through at a slower speed with micro turbulance. Macro turbulance is the result of wind on solid structures. If the field has flatter terain including buildings on one side, you will probably find it a better field when the prevailing wind is from that direction. Your field may still be good some of the time.

One local field we fly at has a different problem.

It is right on the creek, so there are some trees and uneven banks that do cause a few swirlies in the air. The biggest problem is that the teens come down for swimming and picnicing in the afternoon. Some of the young ladies are downright distracting!!

>One local field we fly at has a different problem.
>
>It is right on the creek, so there are some trees and uneven
>banks that do cause a few swirlies in the air. The biggest
>problem is that the teens come down for swimming and
>picnicing in the afternoon. Some of the young ladies are
>downright distracting!!

Ron B.
F4Fguy

Throw me in your briar patch!!!