19 July 2022 313 view(s)
Flight and Wind when Learning
Wind is the enemy to all RC Helicopters. If you must have wind, aim for a day that is not gusty. A constant wind is better than a gusting wind. Depending on the size of your helicopter, it will be able to take more or less wind:
For micro helis (size 200 and under) you'll want a very calm day to fly (at least until you are flying circuits). Any wind over a few mph will make these helis bob up and down - not something you want when learning to fly. That is why I suggest, if you can, flying the first lessons (up to lesson 8 in CP Flight School and lesson 5 in Coax / FP Flight School, if at all possible) inside a garage or warehouse. You'll want about 20 - 30 square feet of room to do so. If you don't have this much room, you'll either have to squeeze in smaller (safely, of course) or only fly on nice, calm days. Once you have mastered hovering and basic flight, FP and CP Helis of this size can take up to about 5mph without drastic difference and up to 10mph if you really fight it (if the wind does anything more than occasionally gust this high, go inside because your flight will be pointless and you may crash). Coaxials of this size are almost exclusively indoor.
For helis from 200-300 size, you probably won't be able to fly inside, unless it is in a gym or warehouse. Both of these will be excellent locations for this size when learning, however if you can't fly inside wait for days with 4 or less mph wind with at most small gusts. Coaxials of this size will only fight the wind the whole time outside if it is more than about 3mph; at more than about 10mph it is impossible to fly. FP and CP Helis should be able to take about 7 or 8mph winds without too much difficulty.
Helis from 350-450 size can probably only be flown outside when learning, but if you have access to a large gym or warehouse with plenty of free space feel free to learn CP Flight School (yes, as mentioned above, FP or Coaxial helis this size are JUNK) lessons 2-5 inside. Try to learn to fly with under 6mph winds. These type of helis can take 10mph winds, but just the same try to fly on the calmest days possible.
Helis size 500 and up should be fine, as long as the wind isn't above about 10mph. Try learning on days with less than 8mph winds, but they can take up to about 12mph winds without too much of a problem.
Of course all these helicopters can fly in higher winds, but at the stated point flying gets more about fighting wind to maintain control and less about actually moving around. The figures above are just a guide to what wind speeds you should and shouldn't go out to fly in.
For micro helis (size 200 and under) you'll want a very calm day to fly (at least until you are flying circuits). Any wind over a few mph will make these helis bob up and down - not something you want when learning to fly. That is why I suggest, if you can, flying the first lessons (up to lesson 8 in CP Flight School and lesson 5 in Coax / FP Flight School, if at all possible) inside a garage or warehouse. You'll want about 20 - 30 square feet of room to do so. If you don't have this much room, you'll either have to squeeze in smaller (safely, of course) or only fly on nice, calm days. Once you have mastered hovering and basic flight, FP and CP Helis of this size can take up to about 5mph without drastic difference and up to 10mph if you really fight it (if the wind does anything more than occasionally gust this high, go inside because your flight will be pointless and you may crash). Coaxials of this size are almost exclusively indoor.
For helis from 200-300 size, you probably won't be able to fly inside, unless it is in a gym or warehouse. Both of these will be excellent locations for this size when learning, however if you can't fly inside wait for days with 4 or less mph wind with at most small gusts. Coaxials of this size will only fight the wind the whole time outside if it is more than about 3mph; at more than about 10mph it is impossible to fly. FP and CP Helis should be able to take about 7 or 8mph winds without too much difficulty.
Helis from 350-450 size can probably only be flown outside when learning, but if you have access to a large gym or warehouse with plenty of free space feel free to learn CP Flight School (yes, as mentioned above, FP or Coaxial helis this size are JUNK) lessons 2-5 inside. Try to learn to fly with under 6mph winds. These type of helis can take 10mph winds, but just the same try to fly on the calmest days possible.
Helis size 500 and up should be fine, as long as the wind isn't above about 10mph. Try learning on days with less than 8mph winds, but they can take up to about 12mph winds without too much of a problem.
Of course all these helicopters can fly in higher winds, but at the stated point flying gets more about fighting wind to maintain control and less about actually moving around. The figures above are just a guide to what wind speeds you should and shouldn't go out to fly in.
