Wind Speed

[Oxxo]

Anyone have a good method for estimating wind speed? I fly in a large open area near where I work. It'd be handy knowing just how much wind I'm dealing with. :)

[globemaster3c17]

I always just call the AWOS (automated weather observation system) at my local airport. Not all airports have these, but quite a few do. I've always flown within a few miles of the airport, so the report is fairly accurate for my location.
You could use one of those lawn ornaments that are a fabric tube similar to a wind sock. The angle between the ornament and the horizon would be fairly consistent for a given wind speed, although you would have to figure out what angle corresponds to a particular wind speed.
Another trick I've heard of is using a prop, prop balancer, and a tach. A given freespinning prop will rotate at X RPM when the wind is at Y speed. But I don't know the formula to figure that out though.

[DaveSawers]

The Beaufort scale has some indicators that are useful whilst you're in the field. For example, see: http://www.sizes.com/natural/beaufort.htm#land

[Oxxo]

The Beaufort scale has some indicators that are useful whilst you're in the field. For example, see: http://www.sizes.com/natural/beaufort.htm#land


Perfect! That's what I was looking for.

Thanks!

[DaveSawers]

I rather liked the description for hurricane force. So now you know that if you look out of your window and see that the countryside is devastated it's probably too windy to go flying. :D

[tailskid2]

I rather liked the description for hurricane force. So now you know that if you look out of your window and see that the countryside is devastated it's probably too windy to go flying. :D

But the plane doesn't know it is windy :)

[ivanc]

In fact the plane NEVER knows whether it's windy or not - it ALWAYS flies relative to the air - whether that air moves or not. :)

[DaveSawers]

But windspeed becomes very important during take off and landing.

Also, when flying, the higher the windspeed, the greater the turbulence and hence it becomes much more difficult to fly a model, particularly a slow/light one.

[Viper Pilot]

In fact the plane NEVER knows whether it's windy or not - it ALWAYS flies relative to the air - whether it moves or not. :)

Would somebody please go over the "flying from an air balloon" theory again???

I just love to be confused!!!

VP

[weather_man]

You can get a handheld anemometer.

[Trogdor]

Radio Shack sells a digital anemometer (jeez, its a wind meter!) and has it on sale sami regularly for 15 bucks. I got mine about a year ago and it seems fairly accurate. Only downside of this model is it doesn't work below 6 mph.

Did find that estimating wind is hard to do without an instrument. Most people will way over estimate from what I've seen.

[fhhuber506771]

Or.. just call the local airport.. and ask. ;)

You can MAKE a wind speed guage for low speed wind. Esentially a tongue depressor glued to a wire to alow it to pivot and a 1/4 circle guage. (bubble level to help you get it at the same angle every time... if not mounted on a post.) The wind blows against the tongue depressor, it rotates to a given amount based on wind speed. You can calibrate it by drivng a car at various speeds and marking it.

Yoy can alter the responsiveness of the device by adding a small lead weight to the tongue depressor.

They avtually sell a similar pre-calibrated device at the local "Big Lots" in the garden supplies section... about $4...

This type wind meter is very acurate at low speed.. less accurate as speed of wind increases above where the vane is deflected 45 deg.