Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1993 17:43:09 -1000 From: WVOSS@novell.com (Wes Voss) Message-Id: Organization: Novell, Inc Subject: Why a wind meter? (was Re: Wind Meters) In article <111040@hydra.gatech.EDU> sc5@prism.gatech.EDU (CSEPLO,STEPHEN P) writes: >From: sc5@prism.gatech.EDU (CSEPLO,STEPHEN P) >Subject: Re: Wind Meters >Date: 31 Aug 93 22:07:22 GMT >In article <25l17r$a1l@kelvin-02.cs.strath.ac.uk> pat@cs.strath.ac.uk (Patrick >Prosser) writes: >>Mmmmmm ... what do you want a wind meter for? Like you say, the >>line's that long, and the wind's this strong. I can feel the wind >>speed, and have a good idea about what will fly, and what will be destroyed, >>what line to use, etc. Why do I need to put a numeric value on it? >> >>Patrick >Good point Patrick. I suppose that is one of the reasons I've never >bothered to "invest" (blow some money actually that I wouldn't blow >somewhere else) on a wind meter. I have always wanted one however. >Just a matter of time...And some spare change! Not that I would know, but ... >From what I've seen posted by Ron, Marty, Jeff, and other flyers-in-the-know, it seems that 5MPH in any direction could make a difference in the performance and flight characteristics. While you might not break anything, or have any trouble flying due to your experience, you might not be tuned (whatever that means to *you*!) for best flight performance. That is when a meter would seem helpful. Especially if flying in gusty wind. Suggestions and corrections (and even flames if they aren't too hot! ) are welcome! (BTW, I don't have a meter yet myself... cost is definitely a downside!) Wes -------------------------------------------------------------- Wes Voss WVOSS@NOVELL.COM Disclaimer: These are just my opinions, and no one else's! Views expressed in email messages are not necessarily those of Novell. ______________________________________________________________ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1993 21:17:45 -1000 From: salanne@convex.csc.FI (Simo Salanne) Message-Id: <1993Sep1.071745.4471@nic.funet.fi> Organization: Finnish Academic and Research Network Project - FUNET Subject: Re: Why a wind meter? (was Re: Wind Meters) In article <25l17r$a1l@kelvin-02.cs.strath.ac.uk> pat@cs.strath.ac.uk (Patrick Prosser) writes: >Mmmmmm ... what do you want a wind meter for? Like you say, the >line's that long, and the wind's this strong. I can feel the wind >speed, and have a good idea about what will fly, and what will be destroyed, >what line to use, etc. Why do I need to put a numeric value on it? > My primary reason to buy a wind meter was communication. When I speak/write/read about wind speeds e.g. in rec.kites I'll prefer a numeric value on it. Terms like "breeze", "moderate", "gale" have more poetic than practical value to me. The wind meter has also helped to calibrate myself with the weather forecasts, giving speed in m/s. Estimating the wind speed to select right equipment is pretty easy, if I am on familiar flying field. If I am in a new environment, I usually take a measument. Does anybody know how to measure wind smoothness:-) Smooth Winds Simo = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1993 18:01:40 -1000 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Message-Id: <2616r4$7ap@umd5.umd.edu> Organization: University of Maryland at College Park Subject: Re: Why a wind meter? (was Re: Wind Meters) In article WVOSS@novell.com (Wes Voss) writes, in reference to Pat and Steve's comments about not needing/wanting a wind meter: >From what I've seen posted by Ron, Marty, Jeff, and other flyers-in-the-know, >it seems that 5MPH in any direction could make a difference in the >performance and flight characteristics. While you might not break anything, or>have any trouble flying due to your experience, you might not be tuned >(whatever that means to *you*!) for best flight performance. That is when a >meter would seem helpful. Especially if flying in gusty wind. But you see, 5mph (or even 2-3) is a very noticeable amount of wind. What I'd interpret Steve 'n Pat as saying is that they're well attuned to how their knowledge of kites ties into their ability to "sense" the wind. About the only time I'd pull out a windmeter would be to check a kite's performance in a given situation against its purported wind range. Oh, and the other time I like a wind meter is when the wind is *really* cranking so I can brag about how much fun my 5 ply stack of 3' revs was in a 35-40 mph wind and not be guessing about how windy it really was. 990f the time on the field, I don't know what the wind really is. I guess. And I relate those guesses to those times when I *do* know what the wind is. >(BTW, I don't have a meter yet myself... cost is definitely a downside!) Check out the Dwyer Wind Meter, available from most boating supply places (I think Into the Wind used to carry it too). It's a piece of plastic with a tiny styrofoam ball floating in a tube in the center. You hold it up with the back facing upwind and the ball floats up to show you the wind spped along a scale on the side. In high winds, you can adjust the scale to be less sensitive by placing a finger on a hole on top of the meter. I believe the meter usually costs around $13. My dad's had one on his sailboat for about 14 years, which is to say that if you take care of it, it'll last a long time. Sure, you won't get the accuracy you'd get from a Wind Wizard, but the Dwyer is a great way to start out. Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | "When I look in the mirror, I see a little clearer/ | |SAFH Lite [tm] | I am what I am and you are you too./ Do you like | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | what you see? Do you like yourself?" --N. Cherry | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =