King Rooney, so you reckon you can land your C172 at 90kts?
A Cessna 172 will stall at around 55kts depending on weight (can't remember exactly) so at 90kts your aeroplane is still going to want to fly and won't be ready to settle down on the runway. You will likely bounce and get airborne again and in any case even if you manage a smooth touchdown the wing will still be producing a large amount of lift and there is probably going to be so little weight on the main wheels that it is going to begin to drift away from you. Don't forget too if you try to touch down at 90kts the aircraft is going to be in a level attitude (any attempt to flare is going to result in a HUGE baloon) so if you do try and land it, there is a strong chance that you'll land nosewheel first. The fin presents a large area, so it is going to weathercock and the wind is going to try and lift the upwind wing. You could put in a bit of wing down aileron to stop this happening, but at 90kts you will have a lot of aileron authority and you might end up groundlooping it. All in all, trying to manage an aeroplane hopping and skipping across the runway at cruise speed while trying to counteract the effects of a crosswind outside the manufacturer's limits isn't the best place to be. In a strong crosswind you are going to need to use the rudder and into wind aileron pretty much until you come to a halt, so your experimental techniques are going to get you into a lot of trouble.
My advice to you would be to find a better FTO and get a good insructor to sit down with you and go through the theory and practice of crosswind landings. You are paying them to teach you and if they're not, then you're being ripped off. Then go off and practice them with her or him. When you're off on your own, you should begin by landing in light crosswinds then as your experience builds, tackle some stronger ones. Maybe a post on the instructor's forum will generate some useful information for you?
But remember, if you are outside the manufacturer's limits then you're on your own.
Last edited by Hufty; 18th February 2006 at 21:59.