Re: Crosswinds...

[Mi Vida Loca]

At 09:19 PM 2/12/99 EST, you wrote:
>Coupers,
>
>I've been following the thread about cross wind landings with some interest.
>Several postings have talked about landing in high cross winds. One posting
>even mentioned landing in a 45 knot crosswind (YIKES!!), and then taking off
>ACROSS the 100 foot wide runway in the same 45 knot wind.
>
>I'm kind of curious (maybe concerned). Are lots of pilots flying Coupes in
>this kind of wind? What do you folks feel like is a safe amount of crosswind
>to fly the Coupe in? I only have about 300 hours in an Alon, probably not
>much compared to most of the folks on this forum, but I would never consider
>taking off in a Coupe if the wind was anywhere near 45 knots, crosswind or
>not. That sounds too much like the beginning of an accident report to me.
>
>I realize that the conditions that are safe to fly in are dependent to a great
>degree on the skill level and experience of the pilot. I guess I just
>question the safety of taking off or landing when the wind is blowing at half
>of the cruising speed of the airplane, regardless of the skill level of the
>pilot.
>
>Does anyone else out there feel the same, or am I the only chicken in the
>house??
>
>Regards,
>
>Wayne DelRossi
>N5618F
>

Well since I am the one in question let me explain the situation. The flight was from TKI to F18, direct line is only 65 miles but due to the DFW airspace and messing around along the way it becomes closer to a 110 mile flight. We departed TKI with partial tanks on 17 with a 12kt wind from 180 and flew to LNC where we had breakfast. departing from 13 at LNC the wind was now about 15 kts from 190. At this point we were now only 38 miles from F18 by the time we reached 3000' we were in a head wind of roughly 50 kts. We continued to plod along watching the cars pass us along the way. Encountering wind this strong at altitude is not all that uncommon around here and still have the wind on the ground be not even half of that. As we reached the pattern at F18 we realized that the wind was indeed strong down low as well. Since we were low on fuel we had a choice either land here and refuel or turn around and find a suitable pasture to put them into when we ran out of fuel on the way back. We chose to refuel here. Since both of us are fairly experienced Coupe pilots and use to strong crosswind's (not that strong) we decided to land on 15 with the wind out of 240. The landing while exciting was uneventful. Inside the FBO we discovered what the wind actually was. The departure was made directly into the wind across the ramp, concrete is concrete and as the old joke goes "man that may have been a short runway, but boy was it ever wide". Since we already had 45 kts (roughly 50 mph) siting still, another 10 mph and we were airborne. Now while this sounds quite exciting let me point out that you make that same transition from 50 mph to 60 mph every time you take off. The airplane doesn't know the difference, all it cares about is how fast the air is moving over the wing. Hit 60 and haul back on the yoke and you go up, it's only a headwind for crying out loud, don't make a big deal out of it. Your airplane will fly just the same with a 10 kt headwind as it will with a 100 kt headwind the only difference is that with a 10 kt headwind you get there a little slower and with the 100 kt headwind you fly backwards. Your aircraft is still only flying through the air at roughly 100 mph regardless of the headwind. Once airborne it is all relative anyway. About 20 miles out the wind dropped back down to about 35 kts and by the time we got back to TKI it was down to around 20-25 kts out of 210 which is no big deal even for a low time Couper. From several E's I've received it is clear that there are several others out there who have handled X-winds almost that high and with the same results. My advice to you is do not attempt something like this unless like us it beats an off field landing or until you are far more comfortable with both your own and your aircraft's capabilities. I do not encourage to attempt anything that is outside their comfort zone. because of differences in training and experience each of us has a different comfort zone. It does not make me a better pilot to have done this and it does not make you a worse pilot not to be comfortable with it. Do not let anyone push you into something you are not ready for or try something just to prove you can do it too. Also don't get too eager to criticize another pilot who is able or comfortable doing something you are not, just as it would be ridiculous to assume you are chicken, it is equally ridiculous for you to assume this is reckless. As the old saying goes "you had to be there"


Dave
41 Charlie
Dave's Ercoupe Page
http://www.flash.net/~dmprosvc/dave
ICQ # 1388138
http://wwp.mirabilis.com/1388138#contactingme