Thu Feb 17, 2022 11:50 am
#1899755
My crosswind landings have never been particulary tidy, mainly due to flying from places with multiple runways, though if I'm honest I do tend to choose days to fly that would not test me in this regards.
My usual technique is crab then a very late transition to straightening up with rudder, followed by a usually less than optimal touch down. I'm aware of the different techniques and that wing_down and crab are taught separately but can be combined, with the transition to wing-down being at whatever height the pilot chooses, so I am aware of the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.
I've recently been bashing the circuit to get better at these as, being aware of the theory, I just need some practice. I have started to transition to the wing-down approach at about 300ft (rather than just kick it straight prior to touchdown) to get a feel for the different amount of wing down needed to hold the centreline but, due to being unfamiliar with the sight and sensations I am always concerned of how far the aircraft can be wing- low upon touchdown. Common sense would suggest that within the demonstrated 17kts max crosswind all should be fine but I always find myself mentally unable to keep the wing low in the vicinity of the ground, sometimes resulting in a bit of sideload. I've had an instructor many years ago show me a crosswind landing in a very strong crosswind in a Cessna and I remember thinking that there is now way a low-wing aircraft would not have grounded a wing-tip. Would that just be my perception or a legitimate concern?
For the avoidance of doubt I have been up with instructors to try to improve but, as usual, the weather rarely complies. And I am DEFINITELY NOT going up tomorrow!
My usual technique is crab then a very late transition to straightening up with rudder, followed by a usually less than optimal touch down. I'm aware of the different techniques and that wing_down and crab are taught separately but can be combined, with the transition to wing-down being at whatever height the pilot chooses, so I am aware of the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.
I've recently been bashing the circuit to get better at these as, being aware of the theory, I just need some practice. I have started to transition to the wing-down approach at about 300ft (rather than just kick it straight prior to touchdown) to get a feel for the different amount of wing down needed to hold the centreline but, due to being unfamiliar with the sight and sensations I am always concerned of how far the aircraft can be wing- low upon touchdown. Common sense would suggest that within the demonstrated 17kts max crosswind all should be fine but I always find myself mentally unable to keep the wing low in the vicinity of the ground, sometimes resulting in a bit of sideload. I've had an instructor many years ago show me a crosswind landing in a very strong crosswind in a Cessna and I remember thinking that there is now way a low-wing aircraft would not have grounded a wing-tip. Would that just be my perception or a legitimate concern?
For the avoidance of doubt I have been up with instructors to try to improve but, as usual, the weather rarely complies. And I am DEFINITELY NOT going up tomorrow!
StratoTramp liked this