Hi,

Had a nice flight with my MA2, see what wind can do for the performance of my drone. (well, all battery powered drones i guess)
Outbound leg head wind, inbound leg tail wind.

Battery % | distance travelled in meter | rest flight time seen in the app

Outboud leg head wind [ average: 18 amps, minus 34 degrees pitched down, speed 9.2 m/s | 60 meter per 1% batt usage ]

76
75 | 65  | 8m30
74 | 64  | 8m17
73 | 59  | 7m53  
72 | 59  | 7m52
71 | 64  | 7m18  
70 | 61  | 7m08
69 | 61  | 7m32
68 | 69  | 7m15
67 | 46  | 7m07

Inboud leg tail wind [ average: 6 amps, minus -3 degrees pitched down, speed 11.8 m/s | 204 meter per 1% batt usage ]

56
55 | 192  | 15m07
54 | 204  | 15m17
53 | 204  | 15m01
52 | 214  | 14m43
51 | 202  | 14m26
50 | 196  | 14m10
49 | 203  | 13m53
48 | 191  | 13m36
47 | 230  | 13m18

So: if you fly away from your HomePoint with tail wind the remaining flight time in the FlyApp does not use wind values into the rest time calculation.....


cheers
JJB

Excellent test and info JJB. It certainly shows clearly what happens if you fly against the wind and with it.

You've done a lot of work there to illustrate something which is rather self-evident. It's always preferable to set off into the wind, and return with it at your back. Thanks for your efforts though.

Very impressive test JJB*.    Nobody can dispute now the merits of flying out against the winds and return with them if you are on a long flight.

Blériot53 Posted at 6-12 02:58
You've done a lot of work there to illustrate something which is rather self-evident. It's always preferable to set off into the wind, and return with it at your back. Thanks for your efforts though.

true, very logical for those who understand it all.... unfortunately not so obvious for many newbies remote pilots!
AND in this flight i had no strong wind warnings, so remote pilot is not informed that mayby HP cannot be reached in a RTH.
So the remaining time on a tail wind direction flight is absolutely not accurate and gives a false feeling about remaining flight time.
As the software 'reads' the wind it should perform a better remaining flight time, perhaps as an option in the menu  show one or the other.

cheers
JJB

JJB* Posted at 6-12 05:08
true, self evident    unfortunately not for all newbies remote pilots!

Fair comment

Interesting numbers JJB*! It is roughly 1/3 of the distance in high wind and 3 times more power needed... Usually no in app strong wind warnings in windy coditions, You have to (and it is important to) watch the speed indicator what speed can drone reach up there, to realize what wind is drone fighting against...

JJB* Posted at 6-12 05:08
true, very logical for those who understand it all.... unfortunately not so obvious for many newbies remote pilots!
AND in this flight i had no strong wind warnings, so remote pilot is not informed that mayby HP cannot be reached in a RTH.
So the remaining time on a tail wind direction flight is absolutely not accurate and gives a false feeling about remaining flight time.

Ah. I see you've edited the comment I replied to
Yes, it's all very well relying on the data transmitted between RC/smartphone and drone, but what should really guide our flights is observation of the prevailing conditions in relation to where the drone is, and elapsed time since take-off.  Assuming that VLOS is "always" observed, it's unlikely to be impossible to get the drone safely back to the homepoint if awareness is maintained by the operator.

virtual Posted at 6-12 05:48
Interesting numbers JJB*! It is roughly 1/3 of the distance in high wind and 3 times more power needed... Usually no in app strong wind warnings in windy coditions, You have to (and it is important to) watch the speed indicator what speed can drone reach up there, to realize what wind is drone fighting against...

yes, well i reached 9 m/s with head wind, so better imo to check speed to the pitch down value.

Hello there JJB*. Good day and thank you for sharing these interesting information with us. Nice flying and have a nice day.

DJI Stephen Posted at 6-12 22:01
Hello there JJB*. Good day and thank you for sharing these interesting information with us. Nice flying and have a nice day.

Hi Stephen,

Thanks, but if you understand what my post means than better to improve the remaining time indication.....as suggested.

Or at least reply with a remark about this.....

cheers
JJB