I cannot find it, one of our resident librarian/historians will have to do that but:
It seems I remember Bob Sanders writing that the landing speed of the coupe should remain the same, even with a cross wind. The theory being that when you touched the ground as slow as possible, there was very little energy left over for the airplane to act silly with. I don't think he was addressing gusty conditions though. Did I dream this? Does anyone else remember reading something similar? Tommy N93929 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kgassert Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 7:46 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Crosswinds Here we go again........ Kevin --- In ercoupe-tech@ <mailto:ercoupe-tech%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com, "robertbartunek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I haven't heard anyone address an airspeed adjustment for the gust > factor during a crosswind landing. In many aircraft operating manuals, > adding half the gust to your computed final approach airspeed is > recommended. Sounds like a smart thing to do. > > And I am still not impressed by the crosswind handling characteristics > of the Ercoupe. The tendency for the aircraft to weathervane into a > strong crosswind durning takeoff/landing roll requires an opposite > (downwind) application of yoke steering force to steer the nosewheel > and keep the aircraft moving straight down the runway. That same > control input lowers the aileron on the upwind wing which increases the > lift on that wing. If and when the upwind wing rises under this > circumstance, any attempt to lower the wing by applying aileron to > decrease the bank also turns the nosewheel into the wind and a rapid > turn into the crosswind occurs. Just hope you have enough speed to > become airborne before you depart the hard surface and remember to say > to yourself, > "Hold er' Newt, she smells alfalfa". > Bart >
