Copyright 1999Blowin’ in the wind
Learning to Fly...From the Ground Up, I’m Tony Seton.
When you are piloting a Cessna Skyhawk in strong winds, you have different concerns on the ground and in the air. And you face special challenges in getting the plane into the air and back down again.
Taxiing across a strong wind requires particular attention. You want to keep down the aileron facing the wind. It’s like holding down the brim of your hat on a windy day. If you are taxiing across changing wind patterns, you have to keep adjusting down the aileron on the windward side, to prevent a strong gust from lifting the wing and possibly tipping over the plane.
The wind can be an ally when you are flying directly into it. Taking off into the wind requires less power and less runway. Once aloft, it’s very easy to lose position in a strong wind. For practice, my instructor has me follow a highway that runs east, perpendicular to the 30-knot wind from the North. Since the wind is constant, it’s not difficult to find a crabbing pattern that will keep me lined up with the road three thousand feet below. I apply a little extra pressure on the left rudder pedal, turning the nose of the aircraft slightly into the wind. This puts us on a course that is more northeast than east, but in the steady breeze, the plane keeps a path along the highway.
Landing into a steady breeze slows the plane more quickly so you need less runway. But getting to the runway can present a significant challenge, especially when landing with a crosswind. The temptation for a novice pilot is to turn hard on the wheel, but the experienced pilot knows that only minor adjustments of the ailerons are necessary. The plane is surprisingly willing to land itself safely, as long as the pilot is willing to handle the controls properly.
From the Ground Up, I’m Tony Seton.