Pilot who successfully flew the pattern in the highest wind speed: Brett Buck
Pilot who had the most opponents pass (99%) due to wind and still flew: Brett Buck
Pilot who drove the farthest to do so (NorCal to Whittier Narrows): Brett Buck
Very flattering, and you can see that my "crashed 40 times" and "weenie motor" profile trainer can handle moderately rough conditions.
But as far at the first one goes, I think I am not the guy. It might have been the highest that day, but several people made it through after Gieseke and I flew at the 2003 NATS when the wind was gusting routinely above 30 MPH. Bear at least did not crash (although he did fall down - and get back up - while flying in about 30 sustained and gusts well over that)), but I sure did! And I assure you that the 2003 NATs and the Bob Palmer meet as pictured was not *remotely* the worst air I had ever flown in. The Palmer meet was a pretty normal day at Whittier Narrows, and very typical of that second circle over by the freeway.
I am sure we will no be regaled with tales about how "we used to fly 7.5 second laps in a 40 mph wind all the time, it's no big deal if you know what you are doing", which may be true. But someone is going to have to demonstrate.
The dead worst conditions I ever flew in was (with all apologies to the Dayton Buzzin Buzzards) was about 15 mph over the trees at Dayton, Ohio. That day, I folded the stab *in inverted level flight*. That was also another day when absolutely everyone else bailed out. stupid me did not, because I figured I had a lot of glue. I freely admit I did not shed a tear when, about 5 years ago, a tornado came through there and while the field was fine, the trees got knocked down.
Brett