Some response notes for discussion: > Spike/Linda Kavalench wrote: > > Keith: > Now I don't have a lot of time in Ercoupes, actually never even landed one. > But I do have about 3500 hours of military flying time, and I am somewhat > confused about this turning away from the wind thing of yours. All the > aerodynamics training I ever got (and the military tends to overdo things > like that) is telling me there's something wrong with your technique. If > I'm landing with a crosswind from the left, and my left wing comes up, and > if I steer AWAY from the wind, ie to the right, then my left aileron will be > deflected DOWN, which should increase the lift on the left wing, and if > anything cause the problem to worsen.
You're right about the turn from the crab to having the plane align with the motion down the runway will: a. speed up the up-wind wing momentarily (.1-2 seconds?) as the plane turns b. lower the up-wind aileron because the nose wheel must be _free_ to swivel and, as it turns away from the wind, will take the aileron with it. Practically speaking, if your landing gear geometry is right (tail 75" high) the plane dumps lift very well and the wing lift should be minor. > Also, your point about turning the > fuselage into wind will have the opposite effect that you were hoping for: > it will blank the right (downwind) wing destroying lift on that side. > Again, no help there. ??? > Lastly, turning out of the wind will increase the > relative airspeed under the left wing which should lift it too. The only > possible reason that I can see that steering away from the wind will help in > this instance is possibly by causing a ground steering rolling moment > opposite to the direction your turn. After all, at this point in your > career, your just driving a 75 mph trike. More likely the wing was just > going to go down no matter what you do, just because that's what it does! (A > tribute to the excellence of the design) I would suggest that this airplane > is so bulletproof that even the wrong inputs on landing makes you look good! > (no offence) After touchdown with a crosswind, while rolling out, the crosswind on the tail will try to weathervane the plane into the wind. This _requires_ a bit of turn of the wheel away from the wind so the nosewheel can keep you tracking down the runway. However, this isn't too great a wheel turn and the wing should never lift dangerously high. These are not final answers but a framework for discussion as we break down the events to understand them. -- Ed Burkhead East Peoria, Ill. N3802H, 415-D
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