[FormerFF]

Does anyone have one, and what do you think about it? I'm thinking of getting this one: http://www.nkhome.com/ww/1000.html

[dgs]

[DanTuck]

The Kestrels are great. A bunch of pilots around here have them. I'd like to get one too.

[HangDiver]

I have the La Crosse and use it when conditions are very strong and gusty on launch.

[hiflioz]

The PGers in our state always have one or two on launch, but we HGers don't - I guess our flying window is bigger.

It's interesting watching different pilots measure the wind in different ways. One pilot goes to the front of launch, spreads his arms, and measures the buffeting force that way. He looks as if he's about to offer himself to the Gods, which I guess in a sense he is!

I stand on launch for at least a minute or two to see the windlines on the water if on the coast, and also to feel the wind that way initially. But after checking the water and feeling the wind, in borderline conditions the final test is always with my glider on my shoulders to feel how much it wants to fly. It's amazing how different the lifting force can be in the exact same windstrength, depending on humidity and temperature, and anemometers don't measure that.

When the windlines are patchy or jumbled-looking, standing on launch with my glider also helps me identify consistency (gustiness) - in funny air, the glider will yaw and pitch about uncharacteristically for that particular site. In which case, I don't launch but try again later!

[relate2]

Interesting Helen you mention about the bloke who stands on launch with his hands out. I only recently got a speed vane for my vario and I used to do the hands out trick. Not to toot my own horn but I got to the stage where I could gauge the wind within 2-3 knots of the measured wind.

[red]

Campers,

If you are a new pilot, you might want an instrument to give yourself some numbers on the day. I won't argue too much with that, until you can build up a level of experience. As you get tuned into the winds, you will probably reach a point where the instrument just confirms what you already knew, by feel.

Starting out, I'd suggest that the spread of the numbers, high-to-low (the gust-factor) is more important than the average wind speeds. I might fly in smooth winds up to some certain high number, but if the lulls are half of that, with gusts near my limits, then flying might be a wild ride, or even something that I will wait a good while to consider. Winds generally get smoother, near the end of the day, barring an approaching storm.

The air temperature is also worth considering. When I spread my hands at launch, I am feeling the wind velocity, sure, but I am also feeling the changes in the air temperature, out there. Cold shots of air, mixed with warmer air, can be a sign of storm winds. Such indications on launch are probably going to give you a bumpy ride, if not a crazy ride. Large cloud formations, which you might have dismissed as being too high or too far away, may really be a serious factor, especially if there is no other source for those colder blasts.

All that to say this: wind velocity alone can be less than you want to know. Put your hands out there; your wrists and forearms can give you good indications of temperature changes, but you need more than a few minutes, to get the picture. Know the temperatures of the winds, the average wind speed, and the gust-factor, as well.

Once you log a few flights with high gust factors, or cold air mixing, you won't be quite so ready to leap before you look. For MOST of our flying, these factors will not apply. Get careful, though, if you notice these things on launch.

[Davedebogusone]

Would love to have one of those new fangled electronic gizmo's.
Always try to keep myself in the happy zone and out of the what I have got away with zone.
Then theres always sacrificing another pilot to the gods.
If I cant get them off the hill( as a wire man) what make me think I can do any better.
And at least understand their skill level vs mine(really conservative)

Oh I use a old hall wind meter

"As you get tuned into the winds, you will probably reach a point where the instrument just confirms what you already knew, by feel. "

OH the little voices
Sometimes they lie to me so I usually confirm with a wind meter
Unless of coarse its a wireman free day

[FormerFF]

[Davedebogusone]

And dont some of them record as well ?
I can't get one because the voices say they will take it apart and mount it in my instrument pod .

So I suffer with my antique hall

Now if I got one as a gift ,the giver should have know better .

[Spark]

I have Kestrel 1000 and find it to be very useful on days when winds are gusty.

The Kestrel 1000 records max and average as well as current wind. When it is gusty, I generally lash the wind meter to a streamer pole (with a cut strip of bicycle innertube) and let it keep track of average and max velocity while I'm setting up and waiting. I generally check (and reset) every 15 minutes and watch the trend.

I still have an old vintage analog hall windmeter with the foam ball, but it doesn't read too accurately. The one with the plastic disk still works pretty well.

[Redbeard]

i have the Kestrel 3500 and love it....

[Davedebogusone]

"old vintage analog hall windmeter with the foam ball"
and i thought mine was old