Wind...How strong?

[Bacchus]

This is a topic everyone has his own opinion of.
I would like to know when does wind become too strong for microlights (weight shift) to fly in. I know here at Wintervogel/ Fisantes/Morningstar etc. you dont need too much of an easterly, because of the mountains, but I am talking about a steady, strongish wind.

Some guys say 7 knots, some is comfortable in 12 knots etc.
When on the ground we will have a look at the windsock and say " no, this is much too windy". The very next day you will take off, do a cross country, come back and see the wind is much stronger than yesterday when you did not want to take off!
You come in, land , no problem at all.

So....where do you draw the line? I know guys like Gert and Trygve fly nearly in any wheather!!! ( because they can? )
Maybe the Mornig Star guys can help me out here, they are the wind/cross wind kings.

[Morph]

The problem with morning star is not the strength of the wind, but rather the effect the obstructions such as the trees and hangars have on the wind. I have taken off in fairly strong SE at MS and been moered by the bumps, only to go to Altona, (which is at right angles to MS runways and almost always 90deg crosswind) and because there is no rotors circuits there are easy, even in heavy winds.

We flew the competition from Wintervogel last year and the wind conditions varied from mild to very strong and there were no incidences and all the guys landed easily.

It's what you are comfortable in. The only wind I don't really like is the easterly as you have mentioned because you get lots of turbulance and standing waves that are not fun

However I am a 3-axis pilot. My mates like CLU-less and Gert will fly their trikes in most wind, and will land in any conditions (sometimes you go for a flight and when you return the conditions have changed drastically ) Our chairman last year was debating not replacing the windsock at MS when it wore out. He said if we put up a new windsock, no-one will fly

Once you are up in the air the wind strength is not really an issue except of course when you want to cross the mountains, then wind is critical. Also if you are not moving forward, then perhaps you should land. I saw Gert takeoff at Saldanha on the way to Lamberts Bay and literally hover above the runway. The wind was pumping 35mph NW that day. Gr8-dad and I flew down to Saldanha from Nooitgedagcht in his Challenger on that day and it was a breeze (forgive the pun). Going back, into the wind was a different story, 30minutes for 10 miles . We turned back and landed without an issue at Saldanha and fethced the plane the next day.

My pet hate is turbulance. I still don't like being bounced around, although it is a lot easier to handle in a Bush Baby than a Challenger.

[gertcoetzee]

Hey I don't want to be seen as a bad example. Well, if the headwind is more than 58mph I should clearly be flying in a different direction. I hate turbulence as much ast he next guy - but have stretched my envelope over the past 18 months with 300h experience. FAMS is really a difficult one, and I concentrate like hell every time I land - I now come in with some power, and about 40ft above ground I go almost full power and drop power just as I flare. Also land deep now - gives me more time to gauge the windshear and turbulence. So how much am I going to stretch it? I hope not too far. I think Morph said it - your own experience dictates what you should do. On my first crosscountry I turned around when the bumps start. Now I consider the bumps I was afraid of tha day as minor bumps.

[DieselFan]

This is a great question? As I've recently got my lic, I look at the windsock and think ah man I really want to fly 2 days later no wind, take off fly for an hour or so, fly over airfield and wink sock is almost str8. Land no issue? I think it's like this, you don't HAVE TO takeoff in windy conditions but you do HAVE to land?

Also I keep having to reminding myself but I did worse during my license and landing in a 15kt 90degree xwind required 3 go arounds. Could I do this now without my instructor? I doubt

How does one find out what their envelope is? I landed or I crashed - simple as that?

[Dreamer]

Yea for me its all about what I am comfortable with........only on 48 hours so a begginner. Flew on Tues, a bit windy, took off and flew about 10 min watching the ground move slowly below me, decided I was not enjoying the bumps and that it would probably get worse so turned around and watched the ground fly past below me. Lep was with me in his plane, turned back with me, gave advice on the landing, which was a "bly wakker boet" landing with rotors. (for me anyway, he made it look easy)

After he said remember you dont have to fly, we fly for fun.if not happy land or dont take off. Stretch the envelope a little at a time. Unfortunately no short cut to experience.

[Waaier]

There was an microlighter called Bachuss,
who enquiered what this wind stuff is.
Although an entrepid flyer,
he pushed the scale higher and higher...
and remained on the ground dreaming of Icarus.

[Bacchus]

There was an microlighter called Bachuss,
who enquiered what this wind stuff is.
Although an entrepid flyer,
he pushed the scale higher and higher...
and remained on the ground dreaming of Icarus.

Good one Waaier!

Yes Morph. You are right. I think you must stretch that envelope gradually, be very careful, and feel comfortable. Turbulance nobody likes, but I think these trikes can take a lot more than what WE can handle!