is bigger better?

[Varelco]

Imagine you are doing a back flip tail in towards yourself on a 700 in 20 mph breeze blowing towards you (or even at angle). You need to hold quite a lot of positive collective instead of zero to keep it relatively in place, then you get 0.5 seconds viloent 15 mph gust on top (which is normal in the UK, winds are very gusty and violent). Angular velocity of heli in flip plus that gust = heli on top of your head in less than a second.

You need to be very very good pilot to control heli with any authority in winds like that. Funny thing, a lot of very good pilots who can do that, opt out of flying in such conditions, because they find it tiring.

So do I, despite not being so good of a pilot. There are better sports for these winds, like windsurfing.

Yeah you do have a fair point.

I think it does come down to the pilots perception and ability. I know for a fact that if there is strong winds with gusts of 10-15mph, I wont be practising flips 15ft in front of me. It would be a foolish decision to try and perform manouvers like that, that close to you and close to the ground. I've flown my 550 in 20mph winds and I didn't think it was at all dangerous, I knew it wouldn't be wise to do anything close to me or close to the ground so you would just adjust your flying style to suit. Like driving your car in rain, snow, fog etc.

[AcidDrink]

20 mph gusts are ok, it's my threshold, more than that I don't go out, it usually means that regular weather forecast shows about 15 mph winds.
Good weather forecast is here - Wind Map - Britain Observations
I find it very accurate.

[electricsceadu]

a back flip should be done away from the pilot and the pits/by-standers/ spectatours
flying in high winds is a lot harder but not impossible
if the model will not fly into wind or even gets blown backwards trying then it is too windy (and not wise to fly in wind getting near to this)
a bigger higher powered model will fly in stronger winds than a smaller lower powered model
a 700 will fly better than a 450 in strong winds but remember to fly to your skill levels and be sensible and take the safe option over the brave option


and the x50 was loving the gusts today
i would like to have flown my 90 more but i was testing an engine for a fiend who couldn't get their engine to run
so i stuck it in my heli and gave it a try out
after a new plug and a total re-set of the needles it was running fine

[del19_82]

I passed my SAA Bronze in 30mph+ winds with a 600LE so it's not unachievable . We live in the UK so your pretty much guaranteed wind but if your confident in it & take precautions (ie fly further away and a bit higher) then there's no reason not to fly in strong winds.

To answer to OP question, yeah the bigger the disc the more stable the heli will be but as was said, once you start moving about a bit then the heli will be affected by wind no matter what . It's all about your confidence & ability on the sticks!

[james 1989]

flying the 450 today wind hasnt been to bad here only a light breeze...so second flight and all is going well. landed it and thought...one more go.....famous last words took off again and then had a freak gust of wind and it took off so ended up having to dump it on the ground before it went over into the next field and trees. that 'one last go'= bent boom knackered stabilizers, main gear had a few teeth off from impact and main blades..... about 25 quid to sort it out so not bad really.....had 20 flights now on the 450 and this is my first real crash...dont feel as bad as i thought tto be honest its disappointing to crash it but just makes me want to go out again and keep getting better. but after today i am thinking that maybe as a learner i perhaps should have gone for a biger heli, but I think i will now as i have got the basic grasp of flying.

all in all though.....still loving it.

james

[cjcj1949]

Helis are difficult when the wind is that gusty. It does depend where you fly. If you fly planes first you will learn a lot about turbulence and where it happens. The higher the wind speed the more it tends to vary. The other point though is that crashing is, after a while, almost a matter of choice. If you want to stay within your comfort zone, you will avoid a lot of crashes. If you are looking to really push yourself then you'll crash a lot more. You can always learn on the 450 and fly the 700 with what you've learnt on the 450. Wind above 20mph can be tricky. At the top of a hill its pretty steady, close to trees its probably impossible. Very turbulent, direction changing all the time and gusty.

[chadvandonkey]

I started with a Belt CP v2 (which is basically a toy that won't fly for love nor money), I then bought a Trex 450 Sport, then a Trex 500, then a Trex 550e, then a Trex 600N and finally a Trex 700N. Having had nearly the full set from small to large I can say in my opinion the 700N is the best by a decent margin. I then converted mine to FBL and it's way better still to the point now where I don't really fly the 600. Yes, the thought of busting a set of £100 FBL blades isn't nice but if you fear it you will hold yourself back.

I find the 700N totally ace and my flying has come on much better since flying a bigger, more stable machine. My 450 was sold a while ago and while I do miss it sometimes it's just too small to see in a large flying field. If you're in a club maybe there is someone there with a 700 size machine that would buddy-up and let you have a go - you'll never look back.......

[Sealee]

A wise man once said "he who fly in wind, fly in no wind better"

[JoeBailey]

I fly every weekend aslong as its not raining, if it's really windy then the gasser is the only model I will fly.
It's solid in just about any wind due to the heavy weight and high disk loading. In flight it's very smooth with little correction needed against the wind.
I also find flybar models easier in wind then flybarless they seem to roll with the wind in a more natural way and not just try to beat it into submission.

Bigger is better in the wind put you need to be confident about your flying and Heli to relax.

Joe

[GIR8]

I have hovered and flown heli's in winds up to 30mph everyone has been grounded and I've fired the heli up. I love hovering in high winds just cause it keeps you on your toes.

I have had the 450 in winds up to about 15/20 but the 700 in winds up to 30 is just awesome it almost just sits there obviously you have to work but after a 450 it's easy.

The raptor 30's are pretty good and the 60 better still so aye bigger is better but I think head speed and setup are a lot to do with it too.