Crosswind landing query
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Western USA
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Exactly. Find what works best for you and use that technique. Just be aware of the differing possibilities in different aircraft and when using any automation that may exist.
Let's not get into what controls airspeed and what controls profile on final, which is another
Let's not get into what controls airspeed and what controls profile on final, which is another
I thought this was the private flying bit of the forum, not the airliner bit? 
Are you suggesting that private flyers have nothing to learn from those that fly the heavy metal?
My Boeing/Douglas autopilot doesn't slip,
have always been told that you must crab in the big jets
I was also led to believe one such reason was if you use a wing down approach you might drag an wing mounted engine pod on the ground at the bottom.
I was also led to believe one such reason was if you use a wing down approach you might drag an wing mounted engine pod on the ground at the bottom.
Managed to get the video to work by clicking on the 'watch in youtube' button.
I have to admit that as I don't fly nearly as frequently as I would like, crosswind landings are high on my list of things I'm not as comfortable with as I might wish. I can practice a forced landing whenever I choose, but rarely get the chance to fly in a significant crosswind. Being based in a valley probably doesn't help - any wind's much more likely to be funneled one way or another.
I have to admit that as I don't fly nearly as frequently as I would like, crosswind landings are high on my list of things I'm not as comfortable with as I might wish. I can practice a forced landing whenever I choose, but rarely get the chance to fly in a significant crosswind. Being based in a valley probably doesn't help - any wind's much more likely to be funneled one way or another.
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Scotbill:
I currently fly a 747SP and a DC-8-72. Both have the factory installed autopilot, and neither will slip on final when coupled. Been kicking it into a slip in the flare for decades, which is the advertised technique for those aircraft. Have never caught a pod (or an outer flap on a 727).
I do the same in my 185, BTW. I live and fly in the mountains. With mechanical turbulence and gusty wind, the slip method doesn't work well, so I prefer and use the crab method on final. Many slip, and that is OK if it works for them.
What we do in the jet doesn't always adapt well to the spam cans, but flying is flying so much of it can transfer aided by specific knowledge of the aircraft you fly.
I currently fly a 747SP and a DC-8-72. Both have the factory installed autopilot, and neither will slip on final when coupled. Been kicking it into a slip in the flare for decades, which is the advertised technique for those aircraft. Have never caught a pod (or an outer flap on a 727).
I do the same in my 185, BTW. I live and fly in the mountains. With mechanical turbulence and gusty wind, the slip method doesn't work well, so I prefer and use the crab method on final. Many slip, and that is OK if it works for them.
What we do in the jet doesn't always adapt well to the spam cans, but flying is flying so much of it can transfer aided by specific knowledge of the aircraft you fly.
In gliders, you like to keep the wingtips off the ground; so, it's crab down to the flare and straighten with rudder with a bit of aileron into the wind to compensate for the rudder lifting the wing.
The wingtips in the 2-seaters are higher off the ground than most single seaters. Some single seater wings are really close to the ground.
The secret advantage in landing a glider in a crosswind is that the wings are so low, the crosswind is less
The wingtips in the 2-seaters are higher off the ground than most single seaters. Some single seater wings are really close to the ground.
The secret advantage in landing a glider in a crosswind is that the wings are so low, the crosswind is less
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In a recent crosswind landing 25G35 at 40deg to runway (grass) in a 600kg taildragger I cannot recall whether I used crab or wing down, & I challenge anyone to say it was definitely one or the other, the thing was bouncing up & down so much I actually used the "stick & rudder" method.Am I missing something in the precision control department? Some posts on here make it sound as though a crosswind landing should be performed as if the a/c is on rails.
I currently fly a 747SP and a DC-8-72. Both have the factory installed autopilot, and neither will slip on final when coupled.
The experienced pilot will cope with Xwinds but it is my firm belief that many a learner has had his confidence destroyed by the fine judgement required in the kick-off-drift-at-at-the-last-minute school. Particularly with taildraggers.
Much of it came from airforce training. Finesse is not as important in a fighter as it is with hundreds of nervous passengers down the back.
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The Classic 747 is autoland capable with a crosswind limit considerably less than the 30 Kt limit in the flight manual. It will touchdown in a crab and then the event will really become interesting when the nosewheel touches down, hence the crosswind limit. The pilot must kick it straight before nosewheel contact and control centerline manually during the rollout. The wing and body gear combo does not like touching down in a crab.
The DC-8 has no autoland capability, and is even a bigger handful during a gusty crosswind. Landing in a slight crab, especially on a wet or icy runway to avoid pod contact is a normal occurrence for those with some experience in a DC-8, particularly with the larger CFM engines. The 8 is a rugged airplane.
The DC-8 has no autoland capability, and is even a bigger handful during a gusty crosswind. Landing in a slight crab, especially on a wet or icy runway to avoid pod contact is a normal occurrence for those with some experience in a DC-8, particularly with the larger CFM engines. The 8 is a rugged airplane.
