thanks Ed, we who have never tested our skills at that yet appreciate your counsel. I am in a section of the country where the wind seems to ALWAYS be directly down the runway, or so closely that I never seem to feel any crosswind component..
--- In [email protected], "Ed Burkhead" <e...@...> wrote: > > > Mike Sigman wrote: > > Where the rudder pedals come in handy is on a > > cross wind take off. Anyone who has taken off > > in a heavy cross wind with a 2 control has > > suffered the "WILL MY WING CLEAR THE > > GROUND" feelings..... > > Mike, > > I can't comment about your experience. I can attest that **I** NEVER > suffered the "WILL MY WING CLEAR THE GROUND" feeling. > > With my landing gear properly maintained and the tail at the right height, > thus the window sill level on the ground, my wings had the correctly very > low angle of attack when on the ground. > > I'd accelerate, keeping the centerline using nosewheel steering. Once I had > a solid margin of airspeed above the minimum, I'd give it a quick pull on > the yoke, get 5-15 feet off the ground and hold it low, in ground effect > till I had my chosen climb airspeed. > > At the point I'd lift the airplane (fairly suddenly) off the ground, it'd > weathervane into the wind. Inertia being what it is, the plane would keep > tracking the centerline of the runway quite well even though I was now in a > crab, sometimes a pretty radical crab, wings level. > > Between the altitude and the strong dihedral, the wing tips just never came > near the ground. (Even with one wheel on the ground, it takes an enormous > tilt to get a wingtip near the grouind.) > > I'd rate the Ercoupe (2 or 3 control) as being a distinctly superior takeoff > aircraft in extremely strong crosswinds. > > After practicing and working up to it, my personal comfort limit was 30 mph > direct crosswind for takeoff or landing. Most people stay with the listed > crosswind component of 25 mph. You should set your own limits starting more > conservatively and develop your crosswind limits based on deliberate testing > and practice. > > JMHO > > Ed >
