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Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

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Ralph Hoover

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Central Ohio

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

I would personally find it interesting to hear how most of you determine if the weather is right for flight today (or any given day). I don't believe that all of you are as fortunate as John Houck in living in your own "Hollar" or field attached to your residence.



My plane is hangerrd approximately 25 minutes from my home and almost every time I lick my index finger and hold it to the air, it appears good to fly. Yet, when I arrive at the field the sock is out straight. Go figure.



Any secrets: longer finger for greater altitude? Live closer to the airport. live at the airport, live in the airplane. I mean here in Ohio we are sophisticated and have "double -Doppler" Rader. that gives us....1). twice the error or 2). half the accuracy. 



Any advice?

Holding an extended finger in the air Ralph of Ohio

Richard Pike

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Go to :www.intellicast.com

Type in your zip code.

When it comes up, go to forecasts.

Click on "winds"



Richard Pike

MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

Ralph Hoover wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I would personally find it interesting to hear how most of you determine if the weather is right for flight today (or any given day). I don't believe that all of you are as fortunate as John Houck in living in your own "Hollar" or field attached to your residence.



 My plane is hangerrd approximately 25 minutes from my home and almost every time I lick my index finger and hold it to the air, it appears good to fly. Yet, when I arrive at the field the sock is out straight. Go figure.



 Any secrets: longer finger for greater altitude? Live closer to the airport. live at the airport, live in the airplane. I mean here in Ohio we are sophisticated and have "double -Doppler" Rader. that gives us....1). twice the error or 2). half the accuracy. 



 Any advice?

 Holding an extended finger in the air Ralph of Ohio





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=32404#32404

_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

Possum

Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Georgia

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

At 06:53 PM 5/2/2006, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



I would personally find it interesting to hear=20

how most of you determine if the weather is=20

right for flight today (or any given day). I=20

don't believe that all of you are as fortunate=20

as John Houck in living in your own "Hollar" or=20

field attached to your residence.


	


Have you ever seen a windsock at a small airport?

(Describe it as a sock flying in the air.) It

shows the direction of the wind. If the force of

the wind is strong, the sock will be

horizontal. The windsock looks like a sock

without the heel, and is mounted on a tall pole.



Possums windsock.



Materials needed:

A metal compass, protractor, paper, pencil, a store compass, ruler.



Procedure:

Using the metal compass, draw a large circle on the paper.

Use the ruler to draw vertical and horizontal

lines through the center. Mark North up , South

down, East, and West at the intersections of 90 degrees.

Use the protractor to mark off points every 30=B0 around the circle.

Point to where a variety of angles would be, such

as 30=B0, 45=B0, 60=B0, 120=B0, etc., all around the circle.

Then suspend a brick from a string (where the

brick can swing freely) over the north south line

of your circle. Measure its weight and record

(ounces). (If using metric measurements, the

weight will be in grams, and the volume will be in cubic centimeters.)



Observations: When the wind is blowing, how does

this experiment apply to an airplane?

(The air reacts against the propellers of an

airplane as they drive the plane forward, and the

reaction against the plane has two elements, one

of which lifts the plane. Can you say, and also

spell the man=92s name, "Bernoulli"? (Bernewly -- B E R N O U L L I.)

The other element, gravity, pulls it down.)

Newton=92s Third Law of Motion. (For every action

there is an equal and opposite reaction.)



Questions: Did the brick "lost weight"? No



Conclusions: If the brick passes over the 45

degree line on your circle Southeast or Southwest

=96 don=92t fly today. Mark it on your circle (Don=92t Fly Today).



That=92s how we do it.

donaho(at)csrlink.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Ralph, The best flying weather I have found , is when there is a large high 

pressure system right over where I live. I  trailer to the airport, and 

hate when I go to all the trouble of  getting things ready and find the 

wind sock straight out. So if the big H on the weather map is not over my 

house I expect some wind when I get to the airport. Anyway this is my 

M.O.    Lanny Fetterman N598LF        Firestar II

a58r(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Bernewly gives abt 10% of the lift, Newt gives the rest. This was  

fought out on another list (FLY-UL) some 5 or so years ago. Oddly.  

many books and teachers actually believe ol' Bernewly does the heavy  

lifting. Ain't so.  { I hear a looong thread starting to unwind!}

regards,

Bob N.

http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/ronoy/



do not archive

Ralph Hoover

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Central Ohio

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

"Go to :www.intellicast.com 

Type in your zip code. 

When it comes up, go to forecasts. 

Click on "winds" 

Well Pastor Pike I am truly amazed. You mean you believe in "forecasters"?  Scares me Brother. A man of your upbringing should stay clear of voodoo and witchcraft! 



And as For the Possum's weather vane wind sock. Shame on you Possum. You should give me greater credit than that. I have seen this sock / brick wind system and it only works at winds OVER 45 miles per hour! And as for that " Bernoulli" fellow, my Mother went to school with him. And the rule you referred to is incomplete. The actual rule states that a body in motion tends to stay in motion until it meets an immovable object of equal or greater authority! You see, before I began riding with hard core heavy drinking bikers I was a nuclear physicist!



E=Mc Squared here in Ohio Ralph

Cat36Fly(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

A large part of your decision will be based on your ability. YOU have to  

decide if the winds are not right for you.

 

Wind conditions can be found on AOL, local FSS and several other sites.  Just 

remember the "old pilots vs bold pilots 'adage.

Ralph Hoover

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Central Ohio

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

"Ralph, The best flying weather I have found , is when there is a large high pressure system right over where I live. I trailer to the airport, and 

hate when I go to all the trouble of getting things ready and find the 

wind sock straight out. So if the big H on the weather map is not over my 

house I expect some wind when I get to the airport. Anyway this is my 

M.O. Lanny Fetterman N598LF Firestar II"



Now you other posters see. Here Mr. Fetterman treated me as an adult with a degree of respect and assumed that I could do word association. His information was concise, diction complete and attitude not unlike one I would choose to hang with. And NOW I will keep my eyes on the big "H" on the weather map rather than the dag nabed brick on the wind sock compass suggested by our famous Possum. I'll bet most of you other fliers didn't know about the big "H". Now did ya?

Ralph in an Ohio stationary front.

Possum

Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Georgia

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

At 08:21 PM 5/2/2006, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



And as For the Possum's weather vane wind sock. Shame on you Possum. 

You should give me greater credit than that. I have seen this sock / 

brick wind system and it only works at winds OVER 45 miles per hour! 

And as for that " Bernoulli" fellow, my Mother went to school with 

him. And the rule you referred to is incomplete


	




Guilty as charged - Sir





do not archive

Kirk Smith

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 78
Location: SE Michigan

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

When I can see 2 suns and one inverted oak tree at the end of 27 from the

deck, it's safe for me to fly.



Do not archive

slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 5:35 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

If you have a strong need to fly you can usually dodge the worst 

breezes during the early

morning and an hour before sundown.

They each have other drawbacks,  the morning will give you wet feet and 

possible

carb ice.  The evening sun will be tough to fly into.  I don't mind the 

late breezes

because they are mostly horizontal and smooth,  no thermals except 

rollers off

hills if you are low.

-BB  do not archive



On 2, May 2006, at 6:53 PM, Ralph Hoover wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=32404#32404

kfackler(at)ameritech.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 6:07 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

 	  Quote: 	
		   I would personally find it interesting to hear how most of you determine

if the weather is right for flight
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   My plane is hangerrd approximately 25 minutes from my home


	


Dear Ralph:



My situation is very similar. I'm 15 miles but it's a 30 minute drive each

way.



I find these sites very reliable in terms of short-term forecast, such as

checking just after lunch for a flight after work:



Winds aloft:

http://map.aeroplanner.com/mapping/weather/weatherwindstemps.cfm



Current conditions and short-term forecast:

http://usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?sta=KMTC&model=avn&state=MI&Submit=Get+Forecast



Note, in the last URL there's an airport identified, KMTC. You can replace

this with the identifier for your airport but the site doesn't recognize the

little fields like the one I fly from. This is the closest one of size,

approximately 8 miles away. I use a few others around the area as well, but

you'll get the idea.



Hope this helps,



-Ken Fackler

Kolb Mark II / A722KWF

Ray Community Airport MI (57D)

ElleryWeld(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Ralph 

 I just keep it to my self GO out side before holding your wet finger up 

Ellery in the wind with a firestar usually 



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Richard Pike

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Great WX website. Many thanks!

Richard Pike

MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

kfackler wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

   

 <snip>

 Current conditions and short-term forecast:

 http://usairnet.com/ <snip>



 -Ken Fackler

 Kolb Mark II / A722KWF

 Ray Community Airport MI (57D)

_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

Larry Cottrell

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon

Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 5:46 am Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?sta=KLMT&model=avn&state=OR&Submit=Change+Location



try this. It will give you the guess for all times of the day. You of course 

will have to change the location, but it gives you some idea of when you 

should be getting out of the sky.

Larry, Oregon

John Jung

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 108
Location: Surprise, AZ, USA

Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Ralph and Group,



Here is what I can tell you about the decision to fly or not: When I had little experience and was flying ultralights (other than Kolbs), it was a big deal. I spent a lot of time wondering about and trying to figure out the winds and weather. It all changed, though, after getting more flying experience and changing to a Kolb. Now, I fly in most any weather, if I need to, or really want to. But given a choice, I tend to pick times to fly based on comfort, avoiding strong thermals or really hot or cold weather. I don't generally worry about the direction of the wind unless the winds are very high.



So, what I am suggesting here is that the problem of predicting weather is only a tempory problem.

_________________
John Jung
Firestar II N6163J
Surprise, AZ

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 3:19 am Post subject: Re: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Depends on where you live. Check out the following link for average winds by month for cities all around the USA.



http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/windavg.html



I note that Phoenix, on average, does not have much wind at any time of year. Compare those numbers to what is normal here in Buffalo, NY. We don't have a single month in which the average wind is anywhere nearly as low as your windiest month. The UL types fly around here only in early morning or late evening before dusk.



Thom in Buffalo

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 12:26 pm Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Bernewly gives abt 10% of the lift, Newt gives the rest. >>



Hi,



never heard this.  Can you point me towards some expert texts? I would love 

to read something which disproves everything  I have ever read or been 

taught.



Cheers



Pat



do not archive





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Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

Pat,



One of the best websites for learning about this is 



http://www.av8n.com/how/



It is a most useful and educational resource.



Thom in Buffalo

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 2:09 am Post subject: Weather..To fly or not to fly T.I.T.Q.

. Check out the following link for average winds>>



Hi there,



watch out for those averages. I read somewhere that the Wright Bros picked 

Kittyhawk on the basis of the average wind data supplied by the Weather 

Bureau.



In fact they were often  grounded by high winds.



Still they did alright. After all they flew just after the Frenchman Ader, 

the New Zealander Pearse and the Englishman  whose name I forget and I am 

too idle to look up, who lived about 50 miles from me.



Cheers



Pat



do not archive 



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