Author Topic: Flying in the rain (Read 2744 times)

Russell Shaffer · « **on:** February 10, 2007, 05:53:04 PM »

Other than being wet and soggy, are there any drawbacks to flying in rain? It has finally warmed up in Eastern Oregon, and now it is raining. I'm talking about a Flite Streak with stranded cables and a Fox. My idea of rain is probably not as wet as many of you. Maybe a sprinkle? I think the water will blow off the wing as soon as I pull the string, and then the biggest problem will be the drops on my glasses? Maybe less trouble than the sun in my eyes. All comments appreciated.

Joey Mathison 9806 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2007, 07:06:26 PM »

your lines may stick together unless you use monoline

Jim Thomerson · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2007, 08:21:06 PM »

No problem so long as there is not electricity involved. Rain on the glasses is not helpful, of course.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2007, 08:26:22 PM »

You do have to watch out for the plane getting too wet. No matter how well finished the model, water will fine it's way in if you leave the plane sitting out in the rain.

Russell Shaffer · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2007, 09:25:09 PM »

Good point, I'll be sure to keep the spare planes in the car. I probably would have left everthing sitting out. Thanks.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2007, 09:32:33 PM »

Hey Randy, after watching at the NW regionals last year, I thought we out here were supposed to fly in the rain?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2007, 12:50:12 AM »

Mark,

Occupational hazard

Joe Gilbert · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2007, 01:30:12 AM »

Rain x the lines and have fun, they do seem to get a little tail heavy but nothing that can't be handled.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2007, 07:18:19 AM »

Of course, there is always the possibility that the airplane will melt!

linheart smith · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2007, 08:29:18 AM »

Flying in the rain is good practice for flying at Muncie during the Nationals. I watched the top 20 fly in a rain storm last summer.

This is Brent's ship after being soaked on day 3. I think it got worse after his flight.

Linheart

Shultzie · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2007, 10:55:16 AM »

Uhhhhh!
If you slide your low slung stunter under the car...to keep it out of the rain, like one poor unfortunate modeler during a downpour at the Kent Aerospace Center contest years ago.
While he was out hanger trashing with other stunt flyers....his wife decided to go to a near by McDonalds...to pick up some BIG MAC's

Standing near that car....I CAN STILL HEAR THAT HORRIFIC SICKIN' CRUNCHING SOUND..as his wife Donna...back over that beautiful old Nobler, returning it into instant kit form again.

Plus...REMEMBER HOW WATER CAN WORK IT WAY INTO HINGE CRACKS.
REMEMBER HOW WATER SWELLS BALSA WOOD SO EASILY!!!
but... REMEMBER WHY WE BUILD THESE BIRDS IN THE FIRST PLACE...and that is to FLY FLY OR DIE!!!

Andrew Borgogna · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:55:45 AM »

As a kid I remember flying in the rain (OK light rain) and having a ball doing it. The lines are stainless steal so water shouldn't have any affects on them. Have fun!
Andy

bob branch · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:56:19 PM »

Bob McDonald got stuck having to fly a pattern at the NATS this year in the rain with his beautiful P-47. Controls swelled so much he could not continue with it. It feed up after it dried out but the NATS were over. Doubt many of us can build as completely finished a model as Bob does. If water got into his, it can get into anything.

Bob Branch

Richard Becker · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2007, 02:00:57 AM »

Never fly if there is any chance of lightning within 20 miles of where you are flying. You don't need a direct strike to be hurt. The electrical current in a flash of lighning is so huge that it can induce dangerous voltages in steel lines many miles away. I was flying many years ago when a storm came up. It was far away, but I started getting bad shocks whenever there was a flash. Eventualy I made a 'high speed landing' and did a lot of damage to my model! Better safe than sorry (or fried!!)

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2007, 10:15:00 AM »

My Grinder took a real beating from all the Moisture at the Regionals last year. Loose covering. Puckered covering on the Elevators that were covered with jap tissue ugh!Now I have to shrink the covering every once in a while. Good thing the rear end was put togather real stiff. Still flies good yet.

Dennis Vander Kuur · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2007, 12:57:36 PM »

At the 2006 NATS in Muncie several people had the misfortune to get flying slots that required flying in heavy rain. Bob McDonald was one. One danger he faced was the footing on the asphalt surface. Where the center circle was painted it was very slippery and he fell down twice but got up and continued flying - an amazing flying feat.
Allen Brickhaus also flew in pouring rain and wind. He did a great job of flying given the weather conditions. However, another problem surfaced the next day when he tried to fly the same plane. Flying in the rain the day before, water hitting the flying lines had traveled along the lines and into the wing/plane through the leadout openings. This water swelled the wood and created severe binding at the control surfaces. Allen attempted a few maneuvers but them wisely decided to fly out the tank level.
So, besides lightning and static electricity dangers, there are several dangers that can be present when considering if you should fly in the rain.
DennisV

Howard Rush · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2007, 05:44:33 PM »

It rained at the ought-five (I think) Nats. My airplane flew yucky. It felt like the lines were sticky. My advisor told me that it wasn't the lines; the airplane was stalling, hence I should fly softer. The next flight was with judges looking. I was sure the lines were sticky, so I was giving extra jerks on the controls. My advisor was right, though, and the flight was really sloppy. I guess that I learned that rain causes the airplane-- particularly a brick like mine-- to stall at less control deflection than normal, that the way the airplane feels can be misinterpreted, and that you gotta back off on corners in the rain. You'da thought that I would have learned about rain by now. If it's not raining around here, the grass is wet from it having rained recently. Either way, the airplane gets wet. There must be some law that says that one learns more from a contest flight than from a practice flight.

Shultzie · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2007, 08:22:49 PM »

INTERESTING...Howard!
You have brought up some interesting ideas..
I wish Gary Letsinger would jump here.....His knowledge on aerodynamics is awesome.

Way back in the early 90's our new Boeing Icing tunnel was completed and our model shop had the difficult (almost impossible assignment to made up various test wing test airfoils sections that were needed to conduct not only how moisture (rain) but also slush' and ice effects the airflow and lift over wing and airplane body structures.
We almost felt like short order cooks at times as we mixed up various batches of the strangest slathering fomulas, goo, and gunk that then was coated onto various flying surfaces.

Many of the model makers spent months..and tested so many various conditions (both in the tunnel and out on the field on actual flying test bed airplanes) that flying objects n' aircraft are exposed during even one simple flight.
Engineering Filmed and recorded how ice builds up on not only flying surfaces...but also how these changes can effect even the Center of Gravity and pressure...etc. I was surprised on just how much seeingly little build ups can but an airplane at risk...so quickly and often so over looked by the pilots....until its TOO LATE.

However on our models...I think sooo much is over-looked starting at the flying lines themselves.
Especially solid flying lines. Amazing just how little moisture or dirt can cause those lines to "Stick-bind- from mearly moisture surface tension itself. Be it wet grass, oil drippings from a leaking automobile engine or tranny onto the tarmac..etc. Add a little trizzle or a downpour..the outcome of those lines 'grabbing are pretty certain that your control input to the bell crank will be noticably effected quite quickly. Again braided lines rule...90% of the time as far as flexibility and freedom from binding.

As far as rain traveling by the force of gravity, along the flying lines in flight..and then into the small lead-out holes, where the leadouts travel....although possible???

Yes, some moisture could enter the wing, but that model in flight does have so many possible points where moisture could also enter...etc. I think perhaps that the amount of rain that could change the airfoil or weight on the model itself..IN FLIGHT...might actually be quite minimal...but again?

At the speeds we travel......I think air pressure due to the air density could also have an effect..also the air temp. etc etc etc.

BOTTOM LINE! I TAIN'T NO GARY LETSINGER, PAUL WALKER, OR HOWARD RUSH! Howard your knowledge about flying objects....are good enough for me to take to my bank anytime, brotha'?

Flying a beautifully finished stunt model in a steady downpouring of rain...really kinda BUNCHES MY BRITCHES...and would kinda get my panties in a knot, when I even think about it. Hummm? Maybe even to the point where I would have to wear "ATTENDS"adult diapers....n' all that jazz?

I was blown away...how little data, R&D studies have been conducted since the Wright Brothers first flew about such things as airflow over wings, or loss of lift etc....or how rain, ice build up or other weather factors can induce many dangerous flying conditions that can so easily and quickly effect changes to the flight of airplanes.

Some airports in various parts of the world...are at extreme risk from weather and climate variations...such as thunderstorms that can dump huge amounts of moisture, rain, snow, sleet, etc. onto flying surfaces of wings but also onto runway surfaces and even worse...the effects that sheets of rain and water can have on an aircrafts flying airfoiled lifting surfaces...etc.
Good input GANG...KEEP IT COMIN?

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2007, 10:21:16 PM »

Another consideration besides weight, and airflow deformation is the loss of power associated with higher humidity. This will also dramatically effect how an aircraft performs, especially in our realm of flight.

Shultzie · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2007, 09:45:10 AM »

Quote from: Mark Scarborough on February 15, 2007, 10:21:16 PM

Another consideration besides weight, and airflow deformation is the loss of power associated with higher humidity. This will also dramatically effect how an aircraft performs, especially in our realm of flight.

Interesting point...humm? Maybe adding a hotter plug...or more nitro...etc. Air pressure, humidity etc really can change things, huh?
Thanks for the input.

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2007, 10:35:21 AM »

Someone asked me onetime how come I ride bicycle in the poring rain. My answer was if you don't ride bicycle in the rain you don't ride in Oregon. It is always good to know your chanches in adverse weather. If you are flying in wind shift conditions and the wind switches on you in a manouver. you have to be able to finish the manouver. I have flown in the rain many times and the worst senario is the lines sticking. Rain-X is the best salution here. Put it on and clean your lines real good with it. when your lines hit the air the rain will go by-by. A good wax job will help protect your plane.