>My test pilot was caught out yesterday by a crosswind gust of about 10 mph
which he couldn't hold.He's an ex airforce test pilot (128 types including
airships!) I'm just wondering if he's a bit rusty on tail draggers ,as I
never had any problems. What is the consensus on crosswind
limitations for a standard tail dragger KR2?
Thanks as always,
Mac G-BVZJ UK
>_______________________________________
The correct answer ought to be "when you run out of rudder to keep
the nose straight with the wing down". It's the gusts that seem to
nail me with the KR. I flew Saturday with wind 15G23 and landed
with the wind at 30 to 50 degrees to the runway. It wasn't pretty
but I didn't break anything either. A Bonanza landing behind me
had to make a "go-around" the first approach before dropping it in
the second time.
My next "attempted landing" had the wind at closer to 90 degrees
to the runway. Just into the flare I caught a gust and must have
ballooned up five feet or more. I was going to let it settle back
down and re-flare but right about then a really nasty gust caught
me and was moving me sideways at a good clip. I called the
whole thing off with full power and headed to the local airport
with a runway more into the wind. The KR spent the rest of
the day in the hangar. With gusty headwinds right down the
runway I'd advise keeping the tail up and the mains planted
until you can't hold the tail up any longer. If you dont', a gust
can have you airborn again in a split second and you can't
"pucker" tight enough to keep you airborn when the gust
quits. :-)
My opinion is that the KR, with it's lighter weight, will react more
quickly to the wind. This makes it more difficult to control than
a heaver airplane. In the wind on Saturday, the KR responded
to every control input I gave it but the wind was tossing me
around like a leaf. Even a quartering crosswind can put you
back in the air with a gust. You think the airplane is down (it is)
but a gust will have you flying again.
The real answer, within limitations, is whatever the pilot can handle.
Larry Flesner
