Piney woods. Yelp, that's Alabama talk, too...just some folks don't understand it. The difference in temps may actually have a seasonal variance, too. When the grass dies in the winter and lightens it's color the difference in temps of the dark green pines and the dead grass should create a larger difference. ???
Well, the site has the slope to the south, prevailing winds come from the SW. There's a long bottom running in the...bottom. The bottom is aligned a touch SW so the winds do appear to have a channel that they can follow to the small ridge. In flying the stunt kites, the crest of the ridge is the best area for some fun. Good wind there...when there's wind. More wind in spring and fall.
Now, as for as wind goes...it's sporadic here in south Alabama...wouldn't be a good place for RE windpower. This summer has been rather turbulent with the weather systems that we've had...thunderstorms, etc.,. I guess, as far as wind goes, disregarding approaching storms, we have as a rule mostly gentle winds...much lighter than gulf/ocean breezes.
My experience is VERY limited. Last Sunday I flew a "Shun Da Accipiter Badius" that I got off eBay. Not your quality plane, mind you, but it flew! Actually it flew the first time I launched it, but of course not knowing what I was doing it was on the ground pretty quick. I launched several times more and had some minor groundings. It was went I got a bit higher that the problems started.
The first time I pulled the nose out of the ground and got the dirt off the prop I noticed a little compression damage and the canopy had popped off. But, even with the canopy off we launched again. This time I flew it around the field for probably 5 minutes and then started gaining altitude. I was beginning to get the knack of it...yeah boy, you can do it!
About that time I must have got into the upper airstream....musta been at least 30 miles high! But, I hit turbulence and the un-canopied battery jumped out of place and was hanging underneath the plane. Immediately I started hollering MAYDAY MAYDAY ...___... ...___... and though kinda awkward, continued to fly. But, alas, we hit more strong wind...the reknown "Accipiter Badius" bowed it's wing back like a hawk going in for a chipmunk and it was "EJECT EJECT!!!".
Too late...the plane started a semi-spiraled nose dive, just screaming to spear the ground...and it did. Ever notice how a plane sticking nose first into the ground kinda looks like a tombstone cross? Flying was over with my Chinese plane for the day...one of the battery leads had been snatched loose from the battery pack. Got back home, glued some of the styrofoam packing innards back together, resoldered the battery lead, straightened out some of the crumpled fuse, and cleaned the dirt and grass out of the prop. Still need to put some strapping tape on the wings and it'll be ready for the weekend...my kite-flying buddy is dropping in for the weekend! :)
Now why I made you read through all of that, I don't know, I'm a grown man...maybe I've been at work to long. But, that's my flying experience. I think most of my problem was in a newbie over-controlling. I figure I can fly that plane into the ground (that didn't sound good and besides I've already done that a time or two) before I put a nicer one in the air. I guess you could say that I bought this little plane figuring it's finite life expectancy.
I probably should have looked a little further before I bought the Shun Da and looked harder at the foamies, but hopefully the plane will live long enough for me to get the hang of things.
Well, I'm leaning towards the Spectra...it seems more simple than using the high start, but yet the use of the high start sounds interesting, too. Thanks for the tip on using the high-start...I had thought just what you mentioned..."I can pull it back just a little bit to see how it works...". Wow, that would have been rather, er, amusing is not the word I'm looking for, but I think you know what I mean.
Sounds like you've got a good son...and one that definitely wanted to keep Dad interested! :)
I think your right on your thoughts about the Spectra suiting me better. I can start out easy with powered flight figuring out manuvering and then start working on my gliding and chasing thermals. Yelp, I've about come to the same conclusion.
Thanks a lot for the tip on the thermals tilting...I hadn't thought about that.
Now comes the question of....
With the Spectra what type of radio/servo system would be best? Standard or mini servos? Best places to buy the electronics at? I really wouldn't mind getting a fairly good radio...4-5 channel in case I decide to use it with other planes down the road, but nothing extravagant. For now, I'm figuring on the ARF.
Thanks, Ed (the crumpled accipter will fly again!)