Taildragger crosswind technique

[John Swallow]

"Did you do this arcing procedure?"


Only on take-off. 


On landing, the approach is off set laterally until late stage of the approach at which time the aircraft is turned to touch down on the runway at an angle.  Doing so can bring you within your crosswind limits for landing. 




Of course, you may have problems taxiing in, but that's beside the point if you're safely on the ground...

[JW Scud]

[quote author=John Swallow link=topic=9402.msg25983#msg25983 date=1544129782]

"Did you do this arcing procedure?"


Only on take-off. 


On landing, the approach is off set laterally until late stage of the approach at which time the aircraft is turned to touch down on the runway at an angle.  Doing so can bring you within your crosswind limits for landing. 




Of course, you may have problems taxiing in, but that's beside the point if you're safely on the ground...
[/quote]

I assume a wide runway is required.

Also, if you arced on takeoff, was the advantage that at slow airspeeds where there was less rudder control capability. And did you curve the takeoff roll in order to be parallel the upwind edge of the runway at higher speeds?

[Colonel]

Generally during takeoff, with full throttle and the prop slipstream passing
over the rudder, the rudder is VERY effective and you will generally have
little problem keeping it straight, even with ridiculous crosswind.  Depends
upon the wind and the aircraft, I suppose.

The problem is during landing - power is off, no slipstream - and as you slow
down, the rudder loses effectiveness, and no one - and I mean no one - ever
bothers to put the stick over into the crosswind to generate helpful adverse yaw.
The aileron has a really useful, long moment arm on the fuselage but no one
cares.

So with a strong wind, you can land ok, but you can't slow down without the
aircraft weathervaning.  You can try some downwind brake, but that might
not help as much as you think - you might just lock it up, FTU-style.

Some decades ago, I had some fun.  Wind was 25G40 [u]knots[/u] directly across
the runway, so I went flying in the Maule.  It was a hoot.  Takeoff was ok,
and I could touch down for the landing ok, but I couldn't slow it down and keep
it straight - it wanted to weathervane really badly as the rudder lost effectiveness
as the speed decreased.  Remember, halve the speed, one quarter the rudder
effectiveness.

I kept having to add power to increase rudder effectiveness to stay straight
as I slowed down during the rollout, even with the control column all the way
over.  Adding power did not help with slowing down.

I ended up doing a bunch of one-wheel touch and goes, which was fun.

I suppose if you have a wide enough runway, you could touch down on the
downwind edge, and as you slow down, let it groundloop as it weathervaned,
but that's pretty hairy.  Confucious say, controlled groundloop may result in
uncontrolled groundloop.

Anyone that has had success touching down a taildragger [u]crabbed[/u] into a
crosswind on a dry runway, speak up.

[John Swallow]

JW:


“…And did you curve the takeoff roll in order to be parallel the upwind edge of the runway at higher speeds?”

Yes.  I’ve only had to do it a couple of times in the past, but you start the take-off with the appropriate control inputs.  You can’t stop the aircraft from turning, but with tremendous cunning and a little luck, the aircraft will get airborne about the time you are turned into wind. 


“…and no one - and I mean no one – ever bothers to put the stick over into the crosswind…”

Andrew:  must be the crowd you’re running with down there; all the TW pilots here – including me – use appropriate inputs taxiing in a crosswind.  :)

[Colonel]

[quote]taxiing[/quote]

Thank you for making my point. 

It's during the [u]landing[/u] that the stick must be all the way over,
and it never is, because people don't give a shit whether they
groundloop or not.

Like leaning the mixture.  I give up.  Leave it in all the time, see
if I care.

[Trey Kule]

and no one - and I mean no one - ever
bothers to put the stick over into the crosswind to generate helpful adverse yaw.
The aileron has a really useful, long moment arm on the fuselage but no one
cares.

Your claim is in dispute...And.....

I gotta ask.  If you think this is important, why do you not do it?  Or “does no one...ever, “ exclude you?

As John Swallow posted, lots of pilots do it properly.  That is my experience as well.

[Colonel]

Once more, with feeling:

I'm not talking about [u]taxiing[/u]. 

I'm talking about moving the stick over into the wind, more and more,
during the [u]landing rollout[/u], as the aircraft slows down.

Every landing, regardless of tailwheel or nosewheel, ends up with
the stick/column all the way over into the crosswind, at the end of
the rollout.

Like talking about using the mixture - hey, why doesn't everyone
crack their cylinders and freeze their engines up solid during descent
this winter? - I give up.

Let's see how it should really be done:

[url=[/url]

[John Swallow]

I can't believe that with all the TW experience here that nobody has ever performed an angle take-off or landing...


PS  Again, about control positioning:  the folks here use the appropriate control inputs during crosswind take-offs and landings...

[Nark1]

John:
Could better explain what an angle Takeoff or landing is?


That maule driver wasn’t driving his maule.  He was holding on for dear life. 

[Eric Janson]

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=9402.msg25990#msg25990 date=1544191839]

I'm talking about moving the stick over into the wind, more and more,
during the [u]landing rollout[/u], as the aircraft slows down.

Every landing, regardless of tailwheel or nosewheel, ends up with
the stick/column all the way over into the crosswind, at the end of
the rollout.
[/quote]

I even do this on the airbus - don't want a wing coming up on me at the wrong moment during landing.

I will also put in aileron on take-off even though the manufacturer seems to to think the laws of aerodynamics and physics don't apply to their aircraft!

I was taught to align the aircraft with the runway and land on the centerline - I've done that on every aircraft I've flown.