crosswind landings

**devitomd** · 11-04-2002, 10:17 PM

I'm looking for some advice on crosswind landings. I have been flying for about 9 months and now that I can land successfully, I need to try something more challenging; so I've been working on landing in a light to moderate crosswind.

Crabbing seems to work okay, but I'd really like to learn to side slip; the only problem is that when I make a slight bank into the wind to cancel it out, no matter how much opposite rudder I apply, my heading still seems gradually change in the direction I'm banking.

I have been flying the default 737-400. Maybe this is normal, but from reading the manual I was under the impression that if you keep the nose aimed down the centerline of the runway that your heading should remain the same.

What seems to happen is that it slowly changes, so I'll compensate with more rudder to keep on course, but eventually I'll run out of rudder and at that point It's almost impossible to stay aligned with the runway.

Any suggestions would help.

Thanks.

**lnuss** · 11-04-2002, 10:29 PM

In a real aircraft, using the slipping method for crosswinds, you keep the nose aligned with the runway using rudder, and you use bank to stop sideways movement. Your description above sounds as if you are trying to do it correctly.

Unfortunately, though, in FS most flight models don't allow slipping to work correctly, thus the results you describe above. I'm told that there are a couple of aircraft available that work right, but I've not had my hands on any of them.

Larry N.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...de0e398ee2.jpg

**KenG01** · 11-05-2002, 06:10 AM

As indicated, default planes don't have flight models that allow sideslips. You'll have to look to payware aircraft (and maybe some freeware ones), but make sure they have an accurate model.

On another note, don't sideslip a 737 too much. Those engines are dangerously close to the ground. Therefore, I've heard that the crab/kickout method is pereferred in real life.

-----
Ken G:-wave

**burnside** · 11-05-2002, 07:16 AM

This won't help your 737 crosswind landings, but try the 182 downloads from Realair simulation (freeware) - you can get a reasonably good slip condition using their flight model. The best flight model I have found for slips is their SF260, but it is payware (about $25), but an excellent aerobatic performer.

Dale
P4 2.53 ABIT TI4600
512 RDRAM 1066
Gigabyte GA-8IHXP
Windows XP Home w/SP1

**rhodges** · 11-05-2002, 07:20 AM

>This won't help your 737 crosswind
>landings, but try the 182
YEA!!! and how about that spin!

>downloads from Realair simulation (freeware)
>- you can get a
>reasonably good slip condition using
>their flight model. The best
>flight model I have found
>for slips is their SF260,
>but it is payware (about
>$25), but an excellent aerobatic
>performer.
>
>Dale
>P4 2.53 ABIT TI4600
>512 RDRAM 1066
>Gigabyte GA-8IHXP
>Windows XP Home w/SP1

happydude · 11-05-2002, 10:35 AM

Crosswind landings is one of the toughest things to master. I have to admit, I dont have it all figured out yet, but here are some things i've picked up so far
-when you're in the flare, and your airspeed starts bleeding back, you need to put in more aileron and rudder because they're becoming less effective

-one problem I used to have was putting in more aileron to compensate for the reducing airspeed (in the flare) but I'd always forget to put in more rudder also. This causes the longitudinal axis of the plane not to be parallel to the centreline. This puts a lot of stress on the landing gear.

-keep the aileron inputs in even after you touchdown. As the airspeed reduces, you should keep on increasing the aileron until its all the way to the stop when the plane comes to a complete stop

-landing on the main gear first when doing crosswinds is very important since the nosewheel is hooked up to the rudder. This means the nosewheel will be off centre when you have some rudder inputs in. It puts a lot of strain on it when u land on it while its canted to one side. This could also cause the plane to swerve after touchdown.

This is all i can think of right now. Hope it helps a bit. Keep on practicing, you'll get it. BTW, if this makes u feel any better, I find that its easier to do crosswindn landings in a real plane than in the sim because the sideslip isn't modelled very well in the default planes

Earl

happydude · 11-05-2002, 10:36 AM

landing in a crosswind is kinda like rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time. :-lol:-lol

**TCLeics** · 11-05-2002, 11:38 AM

The Tecpilot site have just written an article on this very subject.

It's only viewable to members, but non members can read a scaled down version.

www.tecpilot.com

Tony Clarke

U.K

**KenG01** · 11-05-2002, 02:58 PM

Wow! TecPilot wrote an article about rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time? They sure are branching out from where they started.

Next on TecPilot: Chewing Gum and Walking: can it be done by a noob?

;-) j/k

-----
Ken G:-wave