bigdaddy Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Hi, I've been taught you shouldn't fly in weather where gusts are more than 12mph and roughly no more than double the regular wind speed. Do you guys have a a max wind speed you'd go out in? Is there anything else apart from wind and thunderstorms I need to keep an eye out for? Additionally, I use windy and the Met office for weather reports, what do you guys use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffw Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Hi big daddy that sounds about right,I never fly in wind speed above 10mph ,and 2mph gusting to 10 mph will keep me on the ground, Have been up there 3mph gusting to 12mph and it can be very rough,but you will find your own limits and that's fine just becarefull in-wide open spaces and at the coast higher wind speeds may be ok, less rotor ,monitoring the wind speed for at least 15 minutes and be safe. Geoffw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Can't say that I like to fly in gusty wind at all, gusts at 12 mph above regular wind speed and I would not launch from the ground. If it picks up when in the air I would aim for a landing if I lose forward speed at lower altitude. There should always be a good margin. It's not that it's impossible to control a regular wing in wind speed like this, it's just not fun to fly in. More on the topic here : Also, aviation weather reports is just what it is, made for pilots, so it's useful to learn how to read TAF / METAR. Other than that I like some local weather stations where I can see a graph how spiky and stable the wind is, not just in strength but also in direction. The Holfuy stations are great. But other than that, windy is superb, it have everything! The better prepared you are the safer you will be. Learn how the local weather works. For example where I live we have a sea breeze on sunny days that the forecast almost always miss. This is common on days with perfect PPG weather, it can be a 180 degree wind shift while you are in the air on the evening. Nothing to panic about here, but much better to stay high up in the air, since it will stabilize quickly. Temp/dew should be on the checklist, easy to miss, might save you from a disaster. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 I find this site generally give good info.... https://www.windfinder.com/forecast/puerto-deportivo-de-la-duquesa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorehambeach Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Was taught max 10mph with gust no more than +/- 4mph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I was taught max 10mph and with gusts up to 5mph more. I find 8 mph and gusts of 4 (so max 12 mph) works well. The gusts make landing more tricky as you can suddenly drop in between gusts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon_dunn Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I draw the line at 10mph including gusts..... Technically I can fly in higher winds (done it before), but there is no pleasure in doing this. I'd rather save it for a nicer day, for lower winds- where I can fly at will in any direction. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 ^^^^^^This. Crawling along at 15 mph or less just ain`t fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papagyo Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Hi all, For me if it is too windy for a forward launch...then I will find something else to do. B 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon_dunn Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 When you've taken off, and landed 50 meters behind your takeoff point- without changing direction....... you remember not to try it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma001 Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 Thanks for your advice so Ideal weather is 8mph with no Gust. max 10mph with gust no more than +/- 5mph. But in UK its very hard to get the ideal weather lol. Too gusty. and if no gusty, no wind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash_R Posted July 5, 2022 Share Posted July 5, 2022 Old thread! But this is very much still a current topic. In my very limited experience, weather forecasts and wind numbers are only helpful for big picture context (weather radar is even better for that). It comes down to very local conditions at your launch site plus your comfort level on any given day. Some days I go out and kite the wing and everything seems good so I go for a flight. Other days I kite a bit and it feels like twisting winds, or little thermals, or I'm feeling a bit tired or hung over or distracted and I just put the gear away. If the weather forecast is even vaguely close to flyable, it's worth getting out there with the wing to test things out. If it doesn't look good, at least you got a bit of ground handling practice in, and you'll have learned more about the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma001 Posted July 5, 2022 Share Posted July 5, 2022 Is it true that you cant find good place for kiting in midlands. seems so much gust, maybe too many buildings or trees. I think the only place for good wind and little gust is by the sea? From midlands, always far from the sea, so i will only go far, if i can find good weather / good 8mph with no Gust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackburn Mark Posted July 5, 2022 Share Posted July 5, 2022 1 hour ago, ma001 said: Is it true that you cant find good place for kiting in midlands. seems so much gust, maybe too many buildings or trees. Cant see that being true. Coasts do tend to be smoother if there is an onshore breeze but why waste the challenge of tackling the lumps? It can be choppy or "switchy" this time of year, just find a big open space, make sure the gust don't go over 10mph (ish) and tune your skills. Make sure there is also plenty of room to take a dragging... Big thermal could potentially add 10mph for a short spell Doesn't happen often but it can/does happen and people do get hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted July 5, 2022 Share Posted July 5, 2022 `Kiting` is a waste of time anyway because winds strong enough and with enough duration to `kite` a wing are conditions you won`t be flying in anyway and will be of limited use when it comes to your actual flying. The best paramotor conditions are low to no wind and that means a forward launch.... Any location later in the evening when winds die right down and dictate a forward launch is where your time will be spent more productively and be of any future use to you . Any local park or open space would be suitable for that, no need to travel miles.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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