endotherm
Captain
Flight distance : 503241 ft
Australia
Offline
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I wouldn't be flying in winds over 35mph if I were you. The aircraft can't fly much faster than that so you need something in reserve to at least hold position, and not be whisked away by gusts. As mentioned above, winds are likely to be stronger at altitude compared to those closer to the ground. If you rely on RTH to come back, be aware the speed will be slower, a maximum of 22mph. To get more speed in this situation, cancel RTH and fly manually. Never fly away from your home point with the wind, because you will struggle to come back home against the wind. Best to fly the opposite direction, so when you get a low battery, you can return with the wind with minimal effort. If you find yourself in trouble and you can't make headway against a strong wind (standing still or getting blown further away) don't panic. Change altitude, usually lower, until you find a windspeed you can handle. In the worst case, land where you are, and recover it later, it beats crashing or losing contact. The windier it gets, the more power will be expended to keep the aircraft stable, so your flight times will be reduced. You could try using an app like UAVforecast, where you can enter a maximum windspeed that the aircraft can handle, and it will advise you whether it is safe to fly at your location. It includes other factors like light, weather, visibility etc. You can enter various altitudes to give you an idea of how the windspeed changes due to height, and you might find you will be able to fly below a certain altitude without problems.
I wouldn't let a bit of wind stop you enjoying flying your aircraft, it will give you experience and the knowledge to judge conditions for yourself. If it looks like the wind is too strong for your capabilities, return home and give it a miss for the day. |
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